Julia Wolfe is an internationally celebrated composer. She is a MacArthur Fellow and received the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in Music for her work Anthracite Fields (for chorus and instruments). Wolfe is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the 2022 Debs Chair Composer-in-Residence at Carnegie Hall, Princeton University’s 2022 Madison Medal, the 2020 Brendan Gill Prize, Musical America’s 2019 Composer of the Year, election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, an honorary doctorate from Drew University, and Composer-in-Residence at Finland’s Avanti Festival, among others. Read full bio.
- If you could collaborate with any historical composer, who would it be?
Well, collaboration is quite different from simply admiration. Hildegard von Bingen was a fascinating composer, philosopher, mystic. She wrote vocal music. I can imagine adding an orchestra to her sacred monophonic music. Hanging out with her would be interesting.
Do you have a go-to ritual before a big premiere?
Breathe.
What’s the most unexpected place you’ve found musical inspiration?
In writing my work Anthracite Fields, I did a deep dive into the Anthracite Coal region in Pennsylvania. Going down into the mines inspired some low-end resonant harmonies.
If your life had a soundtrack, what’s one piece that must be on it?
Joni Mitchell’s "All I Want."
Do you prefer composing in the morning, afternoon, or middle of the night?
Morning! Though when I am closing in on a deadline any time is good.
What’s one book or film that changed how you think about music?
West Side Story (the original movie.) The songs are spectacular!
What’s the weirdest sound you’ve ever used in a composition?
The chorus of actual scissors in my work Fire in my mouth was fun to include
What’s one piece of advice you give your Concert Composition students?
Write the music you want to hear. Trust your ears.
What’s the most unexpected thing that’s ever happened during a live performance of your work?
Someone in Germany stood up and started yelling. And then other people in the audience yelled Bravo! It was a bit of a Rite of Spring experience - very exciting.
