Young & Emerging Composers

CCS-from-Gamble-balcony-YnE-9-25-2022-sm
CCS-YnE-Curtis-Lacey-0-25-2022-sm
Jimmie-Parker-cropped-9-25-2022-sm
CCS-YnE-Sarah-Mellinger-11-15-2021-cropped
previous arrow
next arrow

The Cleveland Chamber Symphony’s Young & Emerging (Y&E) Composer Concerts provides a real-world experience for rising composers to work with our professional musicians, culminating in a public performance of their composition.  Our current effort solicits area college level institutions to submit one candidate for consideration each year.  Since 1983, we have offered a similar opportunity to Northeast Ohio area college level students from a variety of educational institutions.

The list below is an “almost complete” list of previous participants (special thanks to our audio engineer David Yost). Are you a past Y&E composer?  We would love to hear from you!

Composer Alexandra Vaduva – CCS Y&E 2023

COMPOSER — TITLE — SCHOOL

2023 October 25 NEOSonicFall
Adam Har-zvi — Unstoppable Force/Immovable Object — Bowling Green University
Alexandra R. Văduva — Of Plankton and Stars — Cleveland State University
Gabriel Stossel — Pleiades — Cleveland Institute of Music
Julia Grady — Lucid Dreams — Baldwin Wallace University
Haider Riaz — Pisces — Kent State University
Benjamin Brody — Extremities — University of Akron

2022 September 25 NEOSonicFall
Curtis Lacey — Manticore — University of Akron
Geneviève Cecile — Lapis Lazuli — Baldwin Wallace University
Jimmie A. Parker — Les Preludes (The Beginnings) No. 2 — Cleveland State University
Aaron Chung — Liberation Day — Bowling Green University
Tylor Davis — Heatwave — Kent State University
Kristian Schembri — Na Daoine Maithe — Cleveland Institute of Music

Rescheduled 2021 October 31 (2020 April 8 – NEOSonicFest VII – postponed due to COVID)
Julián Fueyo — Mariposa de Obsidiana — Cleveland Institute of Music
Daisy Ai — Three Xiangxi Folk Songs — Baldwin Wallace University
Ka Hei Cheng — Nibiru — Bowling Green State University
Adonai Henderson — Half a Fractured Mind — Cleveland State University
Jay Westfield — An Answer for Mr Ives — University of Akron
Sarah Mellinger — Elentiya — Hiram College
Ezekiel Paulowski — Sonic Splattering — Kent State University
Victoria Belfiglio — Prelude for Chamber Orchestra — Tri-C
Sam Friedman — Intrusive Thoughts — Oberlin College
Neva Derewetzky — On Cassiopeia’s Throne — Wooster College

2019 April 3 NEOSonicFest VI
Chris Neiner — Many Universes — Cleveland Institute of Music
Steve Chauvette — Fait Accompli — Baldwin Wallace University
Zachariah Thomas — Twisted Branches — Bowling Green State University
Robert Hosier — Phalanx and Collider — Cleveland State University
Andrew Wegerski — She — University of Akron
Scott Little — Passion, Solid — Kent State University
Samuel Ryan Silverman — Jigsaw Rhapsody — Tri-C
Andrew Dana — Bounce Dunces — Oberlin College

2018 April 11
Emilio José González — La Isla de las Muñecas — Bowling Green State University
Davison Yon — Hero’s Journey: Protagonist — Cleveland State University
Soomin Kim — Mu — Oberlin College
Cody Ray — Moving Through States — University of Akron
Benjamin Grove — Caduceus — Kent State University
Samuel Ryan Silverman — The Castle Suite — Tri-C
Ji?í Trtík — Three Moods — Cleveland Institute of Music
Nabil Abad — Variations — Baldwin Wallace University

2017 March 22
Gabriel Novak — Listen to ’em — Cleveland Institute of Music
Robert Justin Frankeny — Conniption No. 1 — Baldwin Wallace University
Daniel Bayot — Monoamines — Bowling Green State University
Sean Parks — Impulse — Cleveland State University
Justin Weiss — Single Seed — Oberlin College
Alex Morris — Dream Catcher — University of Akron
Andy Keller — The Forgotten Child of Zeal — Kent State University

2016 March 9
Jamie Kunselman — Confrontation
Mikhail Johnson — Miserstur
Hong-Da Chin — A Withering Sunflower with Uneven Legs — Bowling Green State University

2015 March 23
J. M. Caffrey — Thinking — College of Wooster
Samuel Boateng — Pi’ Lol? (A Dance for Marimba)
Aubrie Powell — The Hermit — Baldwin Wallace University
Buck McDaniel — Three Movements
Steven Hecking — Collapse and Resurrection — College of Wooster

2014 April 6
Sean Ellis Hussay — Final Process — Baldwin Wallace University
Hong-Da Chin — The Color of Harmony — Bowling Green State University
Collin Kenneny — Allegheny Rain — Case Western Reserve University
Andrew Stock — Hymn-Fragment — Cleveland Institute of Music

2013 March 21-23
Paulus van Horne — Tacit — Oberlin College
William DeLelles — untitled — Cleveland Institute of Music
Frederick Evans — Early Winter — College of Wooster
Evan Williams — The Calling — Bowling Green State University

2012 April 5
Kevin Alexander Wilson — The American Traveler Suite II. Desolate Plains — University of Akron
Frederick Evans — Pastorale — College of Wooster
Xenia Beckstrom — Leth — Lorian Community College
Jesse Limbacher — Wanderings — Cleveland Institute of Music
Corey Rubin — Broken Pearls — Cleveland State University
Jung Yoon Wie — Flying in Winter — College of Wooster

2011 May 9th
Ben Taylor — Panic Later — Bowling Green State University
Chris Chander — Shifts — Bowling Green State University
Jon Gazda — Volatile Encounters — Bowling Green State University
Megan Krainz — String Quartet No. 1 — Baldwin Wallace University
Adam Himes — Memories — Oberlin College
Julian Karahalos — String Quartet No. 1 — Baldwin Wallace University

2008 May 22
Matthew Ahn — Cheerful Sunday Music
Eric Fegan — Visions
Sean Hanson — Ramas
Mark Nowakowski — Via Lucis
Noah Rectenwald — Aria (for Strings)
Samuel Salmond — Closed Doors in Open Spaces
Keane Southard — Two Studies for String Orchestra
Baixi Su-Alexander — Allegro for Strings

2007 May 11
Timothy Stulman — Spring from Si Ju Tu — Bowling Green State University
Elizabeth Joan Kelly — Big Band — Cleveland Institute of Music
Mathew Walker — I Heard You Keep a Banging Hammer — College of Wooster
Larry Fedor — The M.B. Variations — Kent State University
Stephen Lett — Concertino — College of Wooster
Keane Southard — Five Short Studies — Baldwin Wallace
Ryan Carter — Abandoned Overture — Oberlin College
Ryan Carter — Trataka
Robert Samels — Juggernaut — Bowling Green State University

2004 April 15
Evan Fein — Galop
Kevin Eppich — Ignota
John Sokol — Symphony for Strings
Justin Wallace — Essay for Orchestra
Janece Gerber — To the Evening Star
Joanthan Crane — Credo De Irritum
Ben Williams — Butterfly Fields
Mike Bratt — The Old Man and Mr. Smith
Brady Sark — Phaeton

2004 January 22
Stephen Stanziano — Serenade for String Orchestra — Cleveland State University
Marcelle Pierson — The Hollow Men — Oberlin College
Eric Gould — Midnight Excursion Ritual — Cleveland State University
Steven Rice — Chorale Partita on the hymm Rhode Island — Bowling Green State University
Jeff Leigh — Strug — University of Akron
Cynthia Koelker — The Seven Seals — University of Akron

2003 April 23
Joseph Hallman — Chamber Symphony (1st movement) — Cleveland Institute of Music
Greg Cornelius — Rocks and Clouds — Bowling Green State University
Austin Jaquith — Prelude — Cleveland Institute of Music
Bryan Jacobs — The Girl Could Be a Nighttime Sky — Cleveland State University
Marcus Williams — Overture to the Ill-Fated Life — Bowling Green State University
Clint Needham — Ring of Fire — Baldwin Wallace College
Michael Koachway — Underlying Daydreams — Cleveland State University
Eric Gould — Chant — Cleveland State University

2002 November 14
Cynthia J. Koelker — Serenade for Chamber Orchestra — University of Akron
Michael Bratt — Current Piece for Chamber Orchestra — Cleveland State University
Stuart Datt — In Memory of September 11 — Cleveland State University
J. Griffith Rollefson — Musing 3 for Chamber Orchestra — Bowling Green State University
Eric Gould — Midnight Excursion — Cleveland State University
Monica Houghton — Glancing at Flowers — Cleveland Institute of Music
Timothy Beyer — Sleeping Beauties — Cleveland State University
Ryan Gallagher — Incandesence — College of Wooster

2001 April 25
Grisha Krivchenia — Incantations — Oberlin College
Luke Rosen — 2 Whitman Songs – After the Dazzle of the Day – A Clear Midnight — Bowling Green State University
Brian Biddle — Kinesis — College of Wooster
Joe Hallman — Tres Pieces — Cleveland Institute of Music
Michael Weyandt — Primrose — Oberlin College
Benjamin Taylor — Elegy — Cleveland State University
Kristopher Maloy — Transcendence — Bowling Green State University

2001 December 6
Stuart Datt — Symphony No. 1 (3rd move) — Cleveland State University
Brandon Pettit — Two Pieces for Orchestra — Oberlin College
Anthony Markel — Santa’s Horrible Ride — Cleveland State University
Michael Degyansky — Rise of the Monarch — Baldwin Wallace College
Kevin Eppich — Variations for Chamber Orchestra — Cleveland State University
Benjamin Taylor — Organic Music — Cleveland State University
Adam Mirza — if then there — Bowling Green State University
Robert Samels — Juggernaut — Bowling Green State University

2001 April 26
David Cusick — Study for Chamber Orchestra I — Cleveland State University
Kevin Krumenauer — Dancre — Cleveland Institute of Music
Robb Tennant — Orchestral Argument No. 1 — Cleveland State University
Joseph Dangerfield — A Parable of Shadows — Bowling Green State University
Brian Bice — Concerto for Bass Trombone — Bowling Green State University
Anthony Markel — American Renaissance — Cleveland State University
Susan Burkey — Showin’ a Little Leg! — Cleveland State University
Jonathan Sokol — Concerto for Piano and Orchestra — Baldwin Wallace Conservatory

2000 December 7
Thomas J. Brennan — Prelude — Bowling Green State University
Styart Datt — Bright Star Would I Were As Steadfast as — Cleveland State University
Chad E. Hughes — Ruth and Boaz — Bowling Green State University
Paul S. Leary — Spirits of the Dead — Cleveland Institute of Music
Anthony Markel — Tufodobeast — Cleveland State University
Robert C. Samuels — Rapunzel at Hiroshima — Bowling Green State University
George Spelvin — Barcarolle — Cleveland State University
Benjamin Taylor — Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra — Cleveland State University

2000 January 28
Robert C. Sames — Half Dozen of Another — Bowling Green State University
Abraham Libbos — Into The String Coated New Year — Cleveland Institute of Music
Mark Vigorito — Slow Light — Bowling Green State University
Stuart Datt — Prelude to the Last Act of Romeo and Juliet — Cleveland State University
Daniel Rager — Celestial Voyage — Cleveland State University
Mary J. King — Beyond the Edges — Bowling Green State University
Benjamin Faust — Premonition — Marlington High School
Benjamin Taylor — Dance for Orchestra — Baldwin Wallace Conservatory

1999 May 6
Peter Gilbert — Sculpture I — Cleveland Institute of Music
Scott Winship — 54.95N 132.40W — Bowling Green State University
Stuart Datt — When I Have Fears That I May Cease To Be — Cleveland State University
Girara Kratz — Witch Hunt — Bowling Green State University
Dan Rager — Preludium — Cleveland State University
Huang Ruo — Prelude for Orchetra — Oberlin College
Christopher Lee — Interchangeable Parts — Baldwin Wallace Conservatory

1998 December 10
M. Harder — Catharsis — Bowling Green State University
S. Datt — Kubla Khan — Cleveland State University
C. Dargel — Human error intuition — Oberlin College
M. Barna — Suite — Cleveland State University
E. Schwartz — Of or Pretaining — Cleveland State University
Y. Greenberg — Delay in Glass — Oberlin College
K. Doles — Illuminated Places — Bowling Green State University

1998 April 30
Michael Barna — Increasing Return — Cleveland State University
David Schwartz — Tranquillo Religioso — Cleveland State University
Jeremy Piper — Metastasis for Strings — Baldwin Wallace College
Min Chung — Shi Gan — Cleveland Institute of Music
Zach Layton — For Erik Satie — Oberlin College
Michael Leese — Overture — Cleveland State University
Michael Drew — Mr. Disaster — Cleveland State University

1997 December 4
Robert Leng — Standing on the Edge — Cleveland State University
Stephen Grieco — Christopher’s Lament — Bowling Green State University
Michael Barna — Light Movement — Cleveland State University
David Schwartz — Concerto for Piano & Orchestra Mvt. I IV — Cleveland State University
Michael Drews — 3:30 a.m. — Cleveland State University
Adam Zygmunt — Music for a Wednesday Afternoon — Bowling Green State University
Michael Leese — Brute Strength — Cleveland State University
Susan Burkey — Chamber Music II — Cleveland State University

1997 May 8
Ante Simun Gelo — That night — Cleveland State University
Brian Taylor — Sinfonietta — Baldwin Wallace
James Bonney — Ruhe: Last Dance — Cleveland State University
Michael Barna — theme and scenes from points of return — Cleveland State University
Steve L. Fong — Rounds for Chamber Symphony — Cleveland State University
Curtis Hughes — Night Dive — Oberlin
Michael Drews — Whirlwind — Cleveland State University
Toby Lambert — An American Movement — Cleveland State University
Brooke Joyce — The Last Three Minutes — Cleveland Institute of Music

1996 December 5
Christopher Scinto — Sinfonietta for string orchestra III. Presto — Bowling Green State University
Michael Drews — Subconscious Landscapes — Cleveland State University
Michael Barna — Suite in Three Movements for chamber orch. — Cleveland State University
Cathy Elliott — In Terms of the Change — Oberlin Conservatory
Aaron Schickel — Big City — Cleveland State University
Vsevolod Chmoulevitch — Les chants éloignés (Nocturne) — Arts Link St. Petersburg Russia
Matthew Herman — The War Prayer — Bowling Green State University

1996 May 9
Michael Drews — Caffine Man
Seth Houston — Saguaro Dreams
Robyn N. Lanier — The Wanderer
Johan Othman — Peristalsis
Stephen Stanziano — Romanza for chamber symphony
Susan Burkey — Little Foxes Cracking
Liviu Marinescu — Memorial Day
Brian Childester — Gula

1995 November 30
Steve Stanziano — The City at Night (and you)
Ann Lathan — Life of a Monarch
Robert Leng — Terra Dawn
Aaron Schickel — Man and Woman
Liviu Marinescu — Gulag
Greg Wilder — The Burning of the Dancers
Youngchae K. Lee — Travis Bickle
Michael Drews — Sori
Basset — Up There Down There

1995 May 11
Stephen Eddins — Five Portraits
David Treaster — Nascence
Susan Burkey — Study
Liviu Marinescu — Spirals II
Seth Houston — Cool N-eon Loco-Motive
Steve Stanziano — Countryside Patchwork
Andrew Stoltz — Family Tree

1994 December 8
James Mango — Concerto For Spoken Word
Steve Stanziano — Lake Breezes
Michael Albaugh — The Dark
Nicholas Puin — Conclusion
Mike Rodman — Peninsular
Liviu Marinescu — Spirals
Arthur Levering — Times Arrow

1994 May 12
Jason Edelman — Midnight Carnival
Robert Gross — User 7ndh & Swp6030 In Retrospect
Mark Polanka — Resolve
Glen Tarachow — Composition For Morton Feldman
Susan Burkey — Trouble Girl Concerto
James C. Wilson — The Mirror
Glen Stark — Jest
David Taddie — Tribute In Memoriam

1993 December 2
Michael Drews — Passage
Jeremy Bleich — Ahavah Rabah
Richard S. Webb — A-symmetry
Mike Jenkins — Night Vision
Anthony Zilincik — Sundown Over The Great Bear
Lisa Rainsong — No Turning Bac

1993 May 6
Harry-simon Shepherd — Pre Existing Condition
Ronald Fisherman — Ozmandias
Jeremy Bleich — Esctology
Nicholas Puin — An Honerable Decision
Glen Stark — Intrinsic
Fredric Lissauer — Scherzetto Sentimentale
Diane Plevny — Dream Weave
Glen Tarachow — Pondering The Intricate Mazes
Brian Lewis — The Queen Of The Darkness
L.di Cosimo — Momentum

1992 December 3
Unkown — Unknown
Bleich — Schrodingers Cat
Roosa — Dialogue of Self and Soul
Lissauer — Arioso Teneramente
Stoltz — Fulcrum Point
Simpson — Ominous Foreshadowing
Burkey — 3 Episodes
Cauble — Mercurial Temperament
M. Leese — After the Reign

1990 April 4

1989 December 11
William Hannam
Lawrence Minadeo
David Dortos
John Shepka
Christopher Moscatiello
Jaako Warën
Jeffery Quick
Erik Pearson
Geoffery Peterson
Charles Vincent Smith

1989 May 14
Steve Wilson — Adagio-Allegro
William Hannam — Elegie
Joan Hartshorn — Lyric dance for K
Andrew Green — The Bog Monster Fugue
Charles Vincent Smith — Terra Firma
Dan Reager — Daunce Musik
Josh Bayer — Clustered about C
Cameron Getto — It’s Turning Green
Sebastian Birch — Pink Flamingo
D.V. Carson — Dance of the Chrystal Levifyn

1988 December 12
Dan Rager — Genesis Formations
Joshua Bayer — Untitled
Chris Leredo — Opening Boxes
John Charillo — Angularity
Craig Peterson — Transformations 1
Sebastian Birch — Untitled

1987 December 14
Chris Wrabel
Richard Holsworth
Joan Hartshorn
Sebastian Birch
Grant Covell
Torestein Tellness
David Fuqua
David Taddie
Lenny DiCosimo

1987 May 11
F. Chance — Mirobo Bridge
Diversions
P. Bryce — Strictly Strings
S. Birch — Toccala and Fugue
D. Taddy — Avon Lake Furioso

1987 January 13

1986 April 11
David Taddie
Steve Wilson

1983 October 18