Current Students in Composition

Aversa, Eleanor (fourth year)
eaversa@sas.upenn.edu

I compose both live and electroacoustic music, specializing in music for dance and in unconventional text settings. Honors include first prize in the 2009 SFCA New Voices Competition, a 2009 VCCA fellowship, the 2008 Brian M. Israel Prize, and performances at Tanglewood and Symphony Space. With former careers as a Research Fellow at NY Medical College, Russian translator in Moscow, and ESL instructor at NYU, I now study music cognition, Soviet-era music, and the adaptation of language-teaching methods to music pedagogy. My B.A. is from Princeton.

Ball, Erica (first year)
balle@sas.upenn.edu

Carlson, Luke (second year)
lcarlson@sas.upenn.edu

As I continue to discover and refine my voice, I hope to achieve a synthesis of style and form that is meaningful and relevant in this eclectic age. I strive to write music that portrays tonal materials in a new, unique light by drawing on ideas and techniques of the past and present. In addition to solo, chamber and choral works, I am particularly interested in writing for orchestra. I hold degrees from the University of Oregon (B.M. magna cum laude) and Rice University (M.M.). www.lukecarlsonmusic.com

Chen, Ke-Chia (third year)
chenk3@sas.upenn.edu

A native of Taiwan, Ke-Chia Chen has participated as a young composer in residence at several music festivals including the Pacific Music Festival, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Music from Angel Fire Chamber Music Festival. Her compositions have been performed to critical acclaim throughout Taiwan, Japan, and the United States . Her catalogue includes works for orchestra, choir, voice, and a variety of chamber music ensembles.

Dunphy, Melissa (third year)
mdunphy@sas.upenn.edu

I am particularly interested in writing political and theatrical music, and I have composed incidental music for Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival, Gamut Theatre and the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre. My choral work The Gonzales Cantata received rave national press and was featured twice on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show. Performers of my chamber music include Network for New Music. Current projects include a children’s suite for orchestra based on “Jack and the Beanstalk” and a space opera. http://www.melissadunphy.com

McMillan, Michael (1st year)
mmcmil@sas.upenn.edu

Ordway, Scott (third year)
sordway@sas.upenn.edu

My compositional work thus far has resulted in two symphonies and numerous works for solo instruments, voices, and chamber ensembles. I've published on musical structure in the formal designs of James Joyce, and I've appeared as both composer and conductor on public radio in the United States and Europe. Always excited at the prospect of making music with those around me, I've organized more than 20 world premiere performances in the last 2 years, nearly all by composers under the age of 30. Recordings, news, etc. are available at www.scottjordway.com. 

Solitro, Anthony (third year)
solitro@sas.upenn.edu

I am a composer of both acoustic and electroacoustic music and have written for diverse ensembles and instrumentations. My catalogue includes compositions for large ensemble, numerous vocal works (opera, art song with piano and other mixed instrumental ensembles, choral), chamber music, fixed and interactive electronic works, and incidental music for theatrical productions. I also study real-time signal processing with MAX/MSP, focusing on spectral analysis and manipulation. To hear recordings, see videos, and to find out about upcoming events, visit www.tonysolitro.com.