Faye-Ellen Silverman, born in New York City, holds a BA from Barnard College (cum laude and honors in music), an AM from Harvard University, and a DMA from Columbia University. She began studying at the Dalcroze School of Music shortly before her fourth birthday. At age 13, she won the Parents’ League Composition contest, judged by Leopold Stokowski, resulting in her Carnegie Hall debut. She has about 100 compositions published by Subito Music Corp. and recorded on several music labels including MSR Records, Albany, New World Records, Capstone, Crystal, and Finnadar Records.
Silverman has received awards from UNESCO, the National League of American Pen Women and ASCAP, and been awarded residencies at the Fundación Valparaíso (Spain), Villa Serbelloni (Italy), VCCA, VCCA Le Moulin à Nef (France), the Macdowell Colony, and Yaddo. She has received numerous commissions including those from the Greater Lansing Symphony and the American Brass Quintet. Silverman is a founding member of Music Under Construction, a founding Board member of the International Women’s Brass Conference, and on the Board of Directors (serving as Secretary) of the York Women Composers.
Silverman is the author of several articles, record reviews for The Baltimore Sun, and the 20th-century section of the Schirmer History of Music. An accomplished pianist as well—a former student of Irma Wolpe and Russell Sherman—she has recorded for Radio Cologne (WDR) and has performed at the International Festival of Experimental Music in Bourges, the Library of Congress, and as soloist with the Brooklyn Philharmonic.
She has taught at Columbia, various branches of City University, Goucher College, the Peabody Institute, the Aspen Music Festival, Eugene Lang College, and Mannes College of Music. Silverman has lectured in Poland (sponsored by the Maestro Foundation), Lithuania (sponsored by the U.S. State Department) and throughout the U.S. She is currently on the faculty of NYU (Steinhardt School) as well as the Juilliard Evening Division, and she also teaches privately.