From major awards and premieres to starting record labels and composer collectives, Alumni from the Concert Composition program at NYU Steinhardt are making an impact across the field. Read on for highlights and features on recent activities by alumni in the Concert Composition program.
Eli Tausen a Lava (MM`24)
Following graduation, Eli returned to his home country, the Faroe Islands to pursue a full-time career as a composer and musician. He has worked as a music educator, created a short film score, held performances, a few commissions, an upcoming solo album, and is working on a musical theater project. The knowledge Eli gained in Concert Composition has enabled him to feel confident pursuing projects he is interested in. He knows he can deliver high-quality work and navigate the complexities of the music industry without being hindered by uncertainty.
Dr. Jerica Oblak had a profound impact on Eli’s artistic growth through her course ‘Seminar in Composition: Innovation,’ which he took during his final semester. “I looked forward to Dr. Oblak’s class every week because I knew my perceptions and preconceived notions about music would be challenged. Some days, it felt like my mind was physically expanding while in the class. It was a transformative experience that left me feeling empowered to bring my unique perspectives and artistic interests to the table."
One of Eli’s most valuable takeaways from his time at NYU Steinhardt is the importance of building strong connections with like-minded musicians, filmmakers, artists, and other creatives. He strongly believes that collaboration is essential for sustaining a creative career and that artists thrive when they support and inspire each other.
Alex Gray (MM`20)
Since graduating, Alex has been working as music assistant to composer Philip Glass, and established record label, cmntx records with former classmates. He is also an audio engineer and producer for several chamber ensembles and composers, including InfraSound, Angélica Negrón (MM '08), and Nico Muhly. In between all of this, he writes and performs his own music.
Alex is highly appreciative of the wide range of courses in the MPAP program and the world-renowned faculty within NYU Steinhardt who pushed both his creativity and his craft. The combination of his Composition courses and several Music Technology electives helped prepare him to take on production and orchestration work for Glass and others. Alex frequently thinks back to his lessons with Composition professor Michael Gordon, who taught him that "the trash can is your best friend," and to lean into his own musical voice without compromise.
Rohan Chander (BM`20)
Rohan won the 2022 Gaudeamus Award. He received the prestigious incentive prize for young music pioneers on the final night of the 2022 Gaudeamus Festival in the TivoliVredenburg Concert Hall in Utrecht, The Netherlands. In the words of the jury: “Rohan Chander is an electronic artist and world-builder who demonstrates the ability to synthesize various and disparate elements into a clear, considered and identity-driven work.”
Nyokabi Kariuki (BM `20)
Nyokabi Kariuki, a graduate of Concert Composition is a Kenyan composer and sound artist. Learn about her new EP, the sacrifices her family made to send her to New York, her experience performing, and her time at NYU Steinhardt. She shared some advise for incoming freshman, "I remember having conversations with people during my first week of school and being intimidated by how much experience they all seemed to have already! Eventually you figure it out. You’ll discover what your thing is and you will learn so much about yourself. It’s important to go on your own path." READ MORE.
Paul Frucht (BM`11)
Frucht sees the power of classical music as its ability to address modern culture in a serious way. He first came to this realization with his piece Dawn, which premiered in 2013. Dawn is about Dawn Hochsprung, the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, who was murdered while trying to protect her students. Frucht himself had been one of her students in middle school and was inspired to tell her story. He was moved by the experience of writing Dawn and having it tour the United States, how it “fulfilled the promise of an art form that can go unnoticed.” READ MORE
Joe Iconis (BM`03)
Iconis' brother Philip is also a Steinhardt alum. Since graduating, Iconis has had an exciting career. He wrote music for the television series Smash, he has won several impressive awards including the Ed Kleban Award, the Jonathan Larson Award, the ASCAP Harold Adamson Lyric Award, the MAC John Wallowitch Songwriting Award, and a Doris Duke Grant. He also wrote the music and lyrics for Be More Chill. READ MORE