Composer Jonathan Bailey Holland's Fall Performances Include Two Premieres Including a World Premiere with Boston Opera Collaborative

Composer Jonathan Bailey Holland is preparing for two world premieres of new works this fall, to include a marimba/violin duet and a short opera. These new works follow his most recent chamber music compositions: Synchrony, a powerful classical music statement on Black Lives Matter with Radius Ensemble, and Forged Sanctuaries (String Quartet No. 2) composed for Curtis on Tour in celebration of the U.S. National Parks Service Centennial. He has already been commissioned to compose a piece for the 2017 re-opening of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Music Hall, which will be conducted by Louis Langrée.

As the Chair of Composition, Theory and History at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Mr. Bailey Holland has written two pieces for marimba and solo instrument which will be performed this fall. The first, Rebounds, was performed October 4, 2016 with Transient Canvas (Amy Advocat, bass clarinet, and Matt Sharrock, marimba). The second work, to receive its world premiere on Friday, November 4, 2016, features marimbasuperstar and fellow Boston Conservatory professor, Nancy Zeltsman. The work is scored for marimba and solo violin, and the violinist will be a current Conservatory student, paired with Ms. Zeltsman. In addition to Mr. Bailey Holland's premiere work, the concert will also feature works by Bartók and Poulenc performed by faculty and students. Both performances will take place at Seully Hall, 8 Fenway, Boston, MA. Tickets are free and more information may be found online.

Also in November, Mr. Bailey Holland will celebrate the world premiere of his new 10-minute opera, Always, commissioned by Boston Opera Collaborative (BOC) as part of their innovative Opera Bites program. Always is about a couple, Ellen and John, at the beginning of their relationship, and at the end of their relationship one year later, simultaneously. It is a look at how some things never change, regardless of how much we hope they will, and about how some things unfortunately do. The scene unfolds between the two versions of the same couple at the same time, taking us on a quick emotional roller coaster ride. The performances will take place November 11-13, 2016 at the Longy School of Music of Bard College. Tickets are $25-$40 and may be purchased online at bostonoperacollaborative.org.

About Jonathan Bailey Holland:

A native of Flint, MI, composer Jonathan Bailey Holland earned a Ph.D. in Music from Harvard University and studied composition with Ned Rorem at the Curtis Institute of Music. His works have been commissioned and performed by numerous orchestras, including the Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Colorado, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Memphis, Minnesota, National, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Springfield, St. Louis, and South Bend Symphony Orchestras; as well as the Auros Group for New Music; the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble; Transient Canvas; Boston Opera Collaborative; Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia; Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies; Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra; Orchestra 2001, and many others.

A recipient of a 2015 Fromm Foundation Commission at Harvard University, he has received honors from the American Academy of Arts & Letters, American Music Center, ASCAP, the Presser Foundation, and more. He has served as Composer-in-Residence for the Plymouth Music Series of Minnesota (currently Vocal Essence); Ritz Chamber Players; Detroit and South Bend Symphony Orchestras; and the Radius Ensemble. His music has been recorded by the Cincinnati Symphony; the University of Texas Trombone Choir; and flutist Christopher Chaffee. He has recently released a piece on Radius Ensemble's new recording, Fresh Paint, and has an upcoming release planned with pianist Sarah Bob.

Recent highlights include the premiere of Equality for narrator and orchestra for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra featuring the poetry of Maya Angelou, and the premiere of Forged Sanctuaries by Curtis on Tour, commissioned to commemorate the centennial of National Park Service.

Holland is Chair of Composition, Theory and History at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and Faculty Chair of the Music Composition program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. He has also served as Professor of Composition at Berklee College of Music. jonathanbaileyholland.com