Krause Named 2018 MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year

IMTA is excited to announce that the Benjamin Krause has been named the 2018 MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year! 

Krause was the 2018 MTNA/IMTA Commissioned Composer whose piece, Taxonimies of Pulse, a work for two pianos, was premiered at the 2018 State Conference at Sweetwater Sound in Fort Wayne.

This award is conferred upon the composer of the most significant composition from among all works commissioned by the MTNA state affiliates. This year there were 28 submissions.

The recipient of the MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year Award receives a $5,000 cash prize, made possible by the MTNA FOUNDATION FUND. The award also includes a performance of the composition at the 2019 MTNA National Conference, which will be held from March 16-20, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. The actual performance is scheduled on Sunday, March 17 from 11:00 a.m. -12:00 noon in the Conference Theater in the Spokane Convention Center.

The judges for the 2018 MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year Award were:

  • Dr. Philip Schuessler, 2017 MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year, Instructor of Music Theory & Composition at Southeastern Louisiana University
  • Dr. M. Shawn Hundley, Lecturer in Composition and Music Theory at University of Hawaii, Manoa
  • Dr. Michael-Thomas Foumai, Associate Professor of Composition & Music Theory Bethune-Cookman University.

 

Bio:

Benjamin Krause’s work has been recognized through grants, commissions, and awards by the Houston Symphony, Copland House, Network for New Music, Presser Foundation, ASCAP, Da Camera of Houston, and The American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France. Drawing freely from varied traditions and aesthetics, his music is characterized by its visceral rhythmic drive, motivic control, and colorful, dense harmonies reminiscent of jazz. As a pianist, he regularly performs new music, jazz, and the classical repertoire, appearing at Carnegie Hall, Zilkha Hall (Houston), the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the Menil Collection, and in collaboration with such artists as Molly Barth (Eighth Blackbird), Jeffrey Zeigler (the Kronos Quartet), Timothy McAllister (PRISM Saxophone Quartet), and Ronald Feldman (the Boston Symphony). He has held residencies and fellowships at the Oregon Bach Festival Composers’ Symposium, Lutheran Summer Music, and the Bennington Chamber Music Conference, and will be in residency at the Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts (WY) in Fall 2018. He was also recently awarded the prestigious Copland House Residency Award, which will grant him time to work and reside at Aaron Copland’s New York home.

Krause holds composition degrees from Rice University (D.M.A.) and the University of Oregon (M.M.), and a B.M. in piano performance from Valparaiso University, where he also served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music (2015-2018). He lives in Chicago with his wife, pianist Christina Giuca Krause.

Deadline for 2019 Commissioned Composer Nominations

The deadline to apply for or nominate someone for the 2019 MTNA/IMTA Commissioned Composer is December 1, 2018.

The selected Commissioned Composer will be asked to write a piece for the 2019 IMTA State Conference and will then have their composition submitted by IMTA along with composers from other states to compete for the MTNA Distinguished Composer of the year.

Nomination are not limited in any way.  Please visit the IMTA/MTNA Composer Commissioning page for more information and to fill out the online nomination form.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. We look forward to your nominations!

Sincerely,

Caroline KyungA Ahn
MTNA/IMTA Composer Commissioning Chair

Benjamin Krause’s Work for two pianos to be featured at Conference

IMTA is please to be premiering the commissioned composition Taxonomies of Pulse, a work for two pianos by Benjamin Krause at the 2018 State Conference!

Benjamin Krause’s work has been recognized through grants, commissions, and awards by the Houston Symphony, Copland House, Network for New Music, Presser Foundation, ASCAP, Da Camera of Houston, and The American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France. Drawing freely from varied traditions and aesthetics, his music is characterized by its visceral rhythmic drive, motivic control, and colorful, dense harmonies reminiscent of jazz. As a pianist, he regularly performs new music, jazz, and the classical repertoire, appearing at Carnegie Hall, Zilkha Hall (Houston), the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the Menil Collection, and in collaboration with such artists as Molly Barth (Eighth Blackbird), Jeffrey Zeigler (the Kronos Quartet), Timothy McAllister (PRISM Saxophone Quartet), and Ronald Feldman (the Boston Symphony). He has held residencies and fellowships at the Oregon Bach Festival Composers’ Symposium, Lutheran Summer Music, and the Bennington Chamber Music Conference, and will be in residency at the Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts (WY) in Fall 2018. He was also recently awarded the prestigious Copland House Residency Award, which will grant him time to work and reside at Aaron Copland’s New York home.

Krause holds composition degrees from Rice University (D.M.A.) and the University of Oregon (M.M.), and a B.M. in piano performance from Valparaiso University, where he also served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music (2015-2018). He lives in Chicago with his wife, pianist Christina Giuca Krause.

Visit the State Conference page for more details or to register!

Now Accepting Nominations for Commissioned Composer

IMTA is pleased to announce that we are now seeking formal nominations for the Commissioned Composer program. This program is a joint effort by MTNA/IMTA and is a great opportunity for composers.
The selected Commissioned Composer will be asked to write a piece for the following year’s IMTA state conference and will then have their composition submitted by IMTA along with composers from other states to compete for the MTNA Distinguished Composer of the year.
 
Nomination are not limited in any way.  Please visit the IMTA/MTNA Composer Commissioning page for more information and to fill out the nomination form for 2018 commissioning.
The deadline for nominations is December 1st. Please contact IMTA’s Composer Commissioning chair, Caroline KyungA Ahn with any questions.
We are looking forward to many great composers to participate!