About the composers and their music.
Moonrise, Sunrise by Madeline Barrett is a work for chamber orchestra that reflects my fascination with the natural rhythms of the world and our shared human experiences. Written during my summer travels far from home, this work explores the idea of witnessing the moonrise and sunrise from different parts of the globe, evoking a sense of connection with people far away—people who, though separated by distance, share the same celestial phenomena. In this composition, I hope to delve into the beauty of these moments and blend them into a musical narrative that speaks to our collective humanity.
Madeline Barrett is a Los Angeles-based composer of concert music known to evoke imagery of nature and foster human connection. Raised in Phoenix, AZ, she draws inspiration from the world around her, whether it be the oceans of the North American coast, the deserts of Arizona, or the softly bustling streets of Boston.
In addition to many US performances, Madeline’s works have been performed in Italy and Austria, by esteemed groups such as the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Orchestra Senzaspine, Salastina, Carpe Diem String Quartet, Quatuor Diotima, Fivemind Reed Quintet, Boston New Music Initiative, and PHACE ensemble, as well as soloists Hila Plitmann, Stefano Greco, SUUVI, Lisa Pegher, and Michelle Rice. She is a recent winner of the 7th Annual Boston New Music Initiative Young Composer Competition for her work The Flowers That Close at Night.
She has a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Chapman University and a Master of Arts from UCLA and is currently studying with composer/conductor Derrick Skye in addition to pursuing a PhD in Composition, continuing her studies in the studio of Richard Danielpour.
The Eternal Sky by Feona Lee Jones is a single-movement orchestral work dedicated to my former piano teacher, Dr. Kenn Gartner [1938-2023]. Our worlds first collided at Salle pianos in San Francisco in 2010. Instead of merely applauding, he approached me post-concert and meticulously deconstructed my piano performance of Rachmaninoff. Drawing from his training under Adele Marcus at Juilliard, he offered a symphony of advice; it was then I knew I had to be his pupil. From 2010-2016, his Marin teaching studio was my sanctuary, where I immersed myself in the teachings of this extraordinary maestro who fueled my thirst for knowledge. Rare is the occurrence where one can attest to a life profoundly altered by a single mentor, but such was my fortune.
Feona Jones, an Asian-American composer, pianist, singer, songwriter, and educator now based in Los Angeles, specializes in creating evocative soundscapes that delve into themes of trauma, introspection, and storytelling. Her compositions tackle contemporary issues and ethical dilemmas at the intersection of art and societal responsibility. Drawing from historical injustices, Feona aims to use her music as a vehicle for healing, processing trauma, fostering forgiveness, and amplifying the voices of those who have been marginalized. Inspired by giallo Italian horror and film noir soundtracks, her work spans concert music, film scores, interactive games, improvisation, opera, and synth pop music with her band, Telepathic Birds. Committed to her craft, Feona dedicates her time to practice, performance, composition, writing, and teaching from her studio in Los Angeles. In her free time, she enjoys biking, attending concerts, kickboxing, aerial arts, exploring metaphysics, and indulging in 1980s cult classics.
Salve Regina by Gavin Goodrich I wanted to mix the languages of early Renaissance polyphony and Spectralism. Both techniques focus on verticality in music. Rather than solely emphasizing horizontal development (like a movie driven by plot), both of these schools made sure each moment was intentional, like making sure each frame in a movie is worthy of being a painting. The piece centers around the opening of Alexander Agricola’s Salve Regina I, in which 2 voices twirl downwards like descending leaves twisting in the air towards the ground. I juxtapose this quote with walls of sound created with shimmering partials from different harmonic spectra.
Gavin Goodrich is a composer and concert pianist whose works synthesize pure mathematics, Vipassana Meditation, and visual arts. Born in an Alaskan fishing community, he taught himself piano, composition, and mathematics from YouTube videos before receiving a scholarship to study at Columbia University, where he graduated with honors. His senior thesis focused on developing mathematical systems for applying 15th-century Franco-Flemish polyphony into microtonal systems. After taking a year off from academics to teach in Spain on a Fulbright Grant, he now lives in Houston and is currently pursuing his Master of Music in Composition at Rice University studying under Shui-Hui Chen.
conductor Eric Lindholm.The Spirit of Nature by Sum Yee This past summer, my family and I went on a road trip from the Midwest to the West Coast, where we visited two of the most extraordinary natural wonders in the U.S.: Badlands National Park in South Dakota and Devil Towers in Wyoming. I was amazed by the layered rock formations of Badlands National park, as well as the fascinating geological history of Devils Tower, shaped by volcanic activity, erosion, and time. The spirit of nature created all these natural wonders, and it inspires me to write a piece that celebrates the Earth’s breathtaking beauty.
Sum Yee Lee is a Chinese-American composer and pianist raised in Seattle Washington and Guangzhou, China. Her music is often inspired by nature, human experiences, art works, and is characterized by spontaneous change in dynamics, color, characters and textures. Sum Yee’s works have been selected and played by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Dal Niente Ensemble, Quince Ensemble, Wintergreen Chamber Ensemble, and Western Washington Symphony Orchestra. She has also received an honorable mention from the New York Youth Symphony First Music Commission 2024, won the IAWM 2024 Annual Concert Call for Scores, and has been featured in festivals such as She Scores Concert Series, MOXsonic, SPLICE Institute and Wintergreen Music Festival.
Sum Yee earned her piano and composition degree from Western Washington University and a biology degree from University of Washington. She just finished a master’s degree in composition at Bowling Green State University in 2024. Her primary instructors include Dr. Christopher Dietz, Dr. Mikel Kuehn, Dr. Elainie Lillios, Dr. Piyawat Louilarpprasert, Dr. Charles Halka, and Dr. Bruce Hamilton.
