This concert launches our annual Composers Now Festival, a vibrant celebration of collaboration across the artistic spectrum, uniting a diverse array of presenters and performers from all corners of New York City through the month of February. Renowned venues, cutting-edge ensembles, major orchestras, visionary opera and musical theater companies, and innovative dance organizations all come together to showcase works by living composers. These dynamic partnerships not only elevate artistic experience but foster a community where composers are an active and visible presence—attending every event and engaging directly with audiences.
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For this year's 15th anniversary concert, Composers Now honors Visionary Award winners Rhiannon Giddens and Billy Childs for their extraordinary contributions to American art and features the music of Kavita Shah, Pauchi Sasaki, Ileana Perez Velazquez, Trevor Weston, Jake Blount, and Jessica Shand. Performers include violinist Mari Kimura, cellist Mihai Marica, and more. We are also pleased to support the next generation of groundbreaking artists by this year's First Commission recipient, Amil Abumrad, who will premiere a new work with members of The Dessoff Choirs (Malcolm J. Merriweather, Music Director). Finally, a brief video honors interdisciplinary collaboration, with a candid glimpse into the working process of composer Younje Cho and filmmaker Renu Savant during their 2025 residency at the Pocantico Center, representing a partnership between Composers Now and the Asian Cultural Council, made possible by support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
Join us for this extraordinary celebration of living composers and visit us at composersnow.org for Festival events through February!
This is a seated performance. If you require accessibility accommodations, please email boxoffice@nationalsawdust.org.
Senior and student rate tickets are available for $20 (not including fees). To access the senior rate tickets, please use code WELCOMETONS. To access student rate tickets, please use the code STUDENTSATNS. Please be prepared to show a valid ID at check-in.
ABOUT COMPOSERS NOW
Composers Now was established in 2010 and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in May 2019. It was founded by the renowned composer, conductor, and cultural catalyst Tania León, a Pulitzer Prize winner (2021) and Kennedy Center Honoree (2022).
Rooted in a vision to elevate the work of living composers across all genres and backgrounds, Composers Now quickly became a transformative presence in New York City’s musical landscape. From its inception, Composers Now has championed inclusivity and artistic innovation, providing a platform for a wide spectrum of performances—from concert halls to alternative venues like libraries, museums, and community spaces.
At the heart of this mission is the Composers Now Festival, the organization’s flagship annual event. The Festival showcases composers in every corner of New York City and beyond, activating diverse venues and communities and spotlighting the extraordinary range of voices shaping our musical present.