 New recording! Colin Sorgi (violin) and Jooeun Pak (piano): ...Eco de Violin For more information: click here to visit Indiana University/Jacobs School of Music's Latin American Music Center's page about the CD. Click here to buy or download the CD from CDBaby. CareerGirls.org features Tania León. CareerGirls.org, an organization dedicated to providing young girls of all income levels and ethnic backgrounds with the academic tools and support they need to achieve their professional aspirations, features Tania León in a series of videos in their "I want to be a Performing Arts Professional" section. Visit the site and watch the videos. Tania León's named music director of Symphony Space's Composers Now Festival. Symphony Space names composer Tania León as Artistic Director of the Composers Now Festival, the acclaimed city-wide, multi-institution, month-long music event that highlights today!s composers.
"We are thrilled that Tania is heading the Composers Now festival as Artistic Director," says Laura Kaminsky, Artistic Director, Symphony Space. "Tania is a multi-faceted musician and an international figure in the music world. She has carved a niche for herself in contemporary music as a composer, conductor, and music director. Her enthusiasm for contemporary composers will shape the festival, introducing compelling new work and amazing music-makers. Read the press release.  New recording! October 1: Albany Records releases In Motion (featuring Haiku, and the world premiere recording of Inura) Tania León conducts the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, Son Sonora Ensemble and Voices, and DanceBrazil Percussion in this recording of her compositions for dance. Haiku (for narrator and mixed ensemble) was originally choreographed by Walter Raines, and premiered in 1973, and Inura (for voices, strings and percussion) was originally choreographed by Carlos dos Santos, and premiered in 2009. Click here to buy this recording from Amazon.com. *NEW*: Click here for a gallery of photos from Dance Theatre of Harlem's and DanceBrazil's performances of Haiku and Inura. Tania León's music featured on WNYC's New Sounds. WNYC's "New Sounds," featured Tania León's Haiku and Inura, from the Albany Records CD, "in Motion," on the October 25th program, entitled Music from Latin America. "New Sounds" airs every night at 11pm on 93.9 FM in the New York area. Listen to the entire program online. See the YouTube video of Tania León's newly released CD, In Motion (Albany Records). The video features excerpts from two works originally composed for dance: Haiku created during Tania's tenure as music director of the Dance Theater of Harlem (choreographed by Walter Raines), and Inura created for Dance Brazil (choreographed by Carlos dos Santos). Photographers are Marbeth (for Dance Theater of Harlem) and Nan Meville (for Dance Brazil). Order the CD. Abanico for violin and interactive computer on violinist Airi Yoshioka's new CD, "Stolen Gold." Released earlier this month by Albany Records, Yoshioka's album features seven electro-acoustic works from women composers including León, Karen Tanaka, Milica Paranosic, Anna Rubin, Linda Dusman, Alice Shields and Becca Schack. Abanico was commissioned by the University of Maryland for Airi Yoshioka, and it premiered in 2007 at the Americas Society, NYC. Buy the CD from Amazon.com. Listen to a Podcast of Tania León Interviewed by Philip Glass: The interview was recorded live at The James and Martha Duffy Performance Space at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn on February 8, as part of 651 ARTS LIVE & OUTSPOKEN series. Visit BOMBLOG to listen to the podcast. Listen to a Recording of Rimas Tropicales: Set to poetry by Carlos Pintado, León's three songs were premiered in the summer of 2011 in San Francisco by the Girls Chorus conducted by Susan McMane. The work was commissioned by Classical Movements, Inc. as part of the Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program and dedicated to Susan McMane and the Girls Chorus. Click here to listen. Watch Tania León Conduct L'Orchestre de Chambre de Genève: This performance of Pablo Casals' El Cant dels Ocells took place at Vitoria Hall in Geneva (Switzerland) and featured Pascal Michel on the cello. Click here to watch the video on YouTube. View Photos from Tania León's Mosse Lecture: The University of Humboldt, Berlin, has posted photos from Tania Leó's lecture, Border Crossings, which can be viewed here: www.mosse-lectures.de/web/index.php/en/content/archive/SS11.html Scroll to the lower third of the page (just below Claudio Abbado), or search the page for "Tania Leon" to find the relevant section. Tania León Featured in New Slayton Essay Collection: Michael K. Slayton's Women of Influence in Contemporary Music is a collection of nine essays focusing on women who have made significant contributions to American music. Tania León is featured, along with Elizabeth Austin, Susan Botti, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jennifer Higdon, Libby Larsen, Cindy McTee, Marga Richter, and Judith Shatin. Tania's chapter includes an interview, a detailed analysis of Indigena and other works, and a biography. The book reflects the shifting societal landscapes in the United States over the last seven years and offers a rare glimpse into the styles and attitudes of gifted women and their work. Women of Influence in Contemporary Music is published by The Scarecrow Press, and can be ordered here. 2011 Latin Grammy nomination: Tania León's work, To and Fro, as performed by the Nodus Ensemble on their album, "Sonidos Cubanos (Innova 322), has been nominated for a 2011 Latin Grammy, for Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Click here for more information about the Grammy nomination, or here for more information about the recording. 'Access to the Arts' Award: Each spring Symphony Space pays tribute to the artists, philanthropists, corporations, and others who share in its dedication to providing high-quality arts programming to a wide range of audiences. On April 11, at its second annual ceremony, the prestigious Access to the Arts award was presented to composer Tania León. Other recipients honored were author E.L. Doctorow, composer/performer Arturo O'Farrill of the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Symphony Space board member William L. Haines. Click here and here for more information. Mosse Lectures: Tania León has been invited to speak at the prestigious Mosse Lectures at the University of Humboldt, Berlin, on May 26, 2011. The lecture, Border Crossings, will discuss cultural thresholds in the syncretic evolution of music. Click here for more information.  New recording! NODUS Ensemble — Sonidos Cubanos Click here to buy this recording directly from Innova. * To and Fro was a 2010 Latin Grammy nomination for Best Classical Contemporary Composition!!! Upcoming Events - 2011 November 30, 2011 October 29, 2011 October 20, 2011 October 13, 2011 October 9, 2011 September 11, 2011 September 2, 2011 July 28, August 6 and 10 2011 June 9 and 11 2011 May 26, 2011 May 14, 2011 May 10 2011, 7:30 PM March 28, 2011, 7 PM March 18, 2011, 11:45 AM -12:15 PM March 13, 2011, 8 PM March 9, 2011, 7:30 PM March 7, 2011, 7 PM February 21, 2011, 5:30 PM February 13, 2011, 3 PM February 12, 2011, 6 PM February 8, 2011, 7 PM February 5, 2011, 8 PM Premieres: Rimas Tropicales. Premiered by the San Francisco Girls Chorus, San Francisco, CA. June 9 and 11, 2011. Cuarteto No. 2. Premiered by the Harlem Quartet, New York, NY. May 14, 2011 Cumba Cumbakin. Premiered by the Harvard Wind Ensemble, Boston, MA. March 6, 2010. Esencia para cuarteto de cuerdas. Premiered by the Del Sol Quartet, San Francisco, CA. May 8, 2009. Inura, original score for ballet. Premiered by Dance Brazil. Skirball Center, NYC, Mar. 19-22, 2009. Tiempo en Clave for violin and percussion. Premiered by Ana Milosavljevic and Alex Lipowski. The Times Center, NYC. Oct. 24, 2008 Estampas for SATB. Premiered by Chicago a capella. Chicago, IL. Apr. 19, 2008 Ácana for orchestra. Premiered by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Carnegie Hall, NYC. Live broadcast on WNYC-FM (93.9). April 1, 2008 Ancients for 2 Sopranos, flute, clarinet, percussion, viola, cello. Commissioned by Carolina Performing Arts for Terry Rhodes. March 27, 2008 Raices for mixed ensemble. Premiered by Latin Fiesta, Philadelphia, PA. Sept. 22, 2007 Abanico for violin and interactive computer. Premiered by Airi Yoshioka. America's Society, NYC, May 9, 2007. Alma for flute and piano. Premiered by Marya Martin. Weill Recital Hall, NYC. March 29, 2007. Atwood Songs for Soprano and piano. Poetry by Margaret Atwood. Premiered by Eileen Strempel and Sylvie Beaudette. Syracuse University, NY. March 25, 2007. Reflections for Soprano, piano, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, 2 percussion, string quintet. Premiered by Tamara Haskin and the Son Sonora Ensemble, Tania León, conductor, The Gatehouse, NYC, Nov. 9-14, 2006. Toque for mixed ensemble. Commissioned and premiered by Opus 21. May 20, 2006, Symphony Space, NYC. Variacíon, for solo piano. Society for American Music Annual Conference, in Chicago, Il on March 15-29, 2006. Anna Briscoe, pianist. Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel (arr. León). Commissioned and premiered by the Albany Symphony. David Alan Miller, conductor. 2005 Samarkand for narrator, chorus, children's chorus and mixed ensemble. Collaboration with Wole Soyinka. Shaw Center for the Performing Arts, Baton Rouge, LA. March 2005 Tumbao, for solo piano. Commissioned and premiered by Elena Riu. Published by Boosey & Hawkes, London. 2005 Commissions: Piano solo works for and commissioned by Vassily Primakov. 2010 New Work. Commissioned for the San Francisco Girls Chorus by Classical Movements, Inc. as part of the Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program. 2010 String Quartet for the Harlem Quartet. Commissioned by The ASCAP Foundation and The Sphinx Organization. 2009 Inura, Original score for new ballet. Choreography by Carlos dos Santos. Commissioned for Dance Brazil Company. 2009. New Work for piano and percussion. Commissioned for Jade Simmons and Craig Hauschildt. 2010 Cumba Cumbakin for band. Commissioned by Harvard University Band. 2009 Tiempo en Clave for violin and percussion. Commissioned by Ana Milosavljevic. 2008 Ancients for 2 Sopranos, flute, clarinet, percussion, viola, cello. Commissioned by Carolina Performing Arts for Terry Rhodes. 2008 Estampas for vocal ensemble. Commissioned by the Chicago a cappella. 2008. Ácana for orchestra. Commissioned by Purchase College and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with support from the New York State Music Fund. 2008. Esencia for the Del Sol String Quartet. Commissioned by the Fromm Foundation. 2006 Recent recordings: Sonidos Cubanos (NODUS Ensemble) (In) Habitation - Musical Settings of Margaret Atwood Poetry by American Women Composers Eight Visions - A New Anthology for Flute and Piano (Flute Recital (21st Century): Marya Martin) Tania León: Singin' Sepia (Six Compositions, 1992-2002) Timbrando (Meridien Arts Ensemble) New Music for Baritone & Chamber Ensemble (Thomas Buckner) To Have and to Hold (Sequitur) Family Album ( New Music with Guitar Vol. 7) (David Starobin, guitar) Polytopia: Music for Violin and Electronics (Mari Kimura, violin) Salsa Nueva (Elena Riu, pianist) Percussion (Edith Salmen) Awards and Honors: Induction into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. 2010 Recent Events - 2010 December 21 December 7 October 30, 7:30pm October 23 October 13, 6pm October 9, 6pm October 7, 8pm October 5, 2010, 8 pm October 1st, 2010, 7:30 PM October 1, 2010, 8 PM June 4 & 5: May the Road be Free to be performed by the San Francisco Girls Chorus. 50 Oak St., S.F. CA May 19-June 13: Display of works at the Academy Galleries located at Audubon Terrace on Broadway between 155 and 156 streets. May 19: Tania León to be inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. 155th St./Broadway, NYC April 20: Facebook Friends Concert: A Concert curated by composer Douglas Townsend. Includes performance of Mistica. St. Peter's Church. 54th & Lexington, NYC. April 18: ThingNY presents SPAM v.1.2. Includes A Thought. The Tank, 354 w. 45th st., NYC. 212-563-6269. April 17: Tania León conducts the Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota. Program includes León's Acana and Horizons. Also works by Izarra, Orbon, Sarmiento and Copland. Auditorio Leon de Greiff. Bogota, Colombia. April 17: Pianist Erica Guo performs Momentum. Myers Hall, Manhattan School of Music. NYC. April 16: Tania León conducts the Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota. Program includes León's Acana and Horizons. Also works by Izarra, Orbon, Sarmiento and Copland. Teatro Municipal Jorge Eliecer Gaitan. Bogota, Colombia. April 13-22: Ailey II performs Proximity, choreography by Carlos dos Santos set to León's Satine for 2 pianos. The Joyce Theater, 175 8th Ave, NYC (www.Joyce.org) April 11: Del Sol String Quartet performs Esencia. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. March 28: Great Artists in the Music Room presents "Turns of the Centuries: Piano Panoply." Solo piano works by Haydn, Beethoven, Schoenberg, Berg, Debussy, Janacek, Scriabin, Ingram Marshall, Tania León, Terry Riley, Annea Lockwood, Peter Garland, Kui Dong, and Annie Gosfield. Caramoor. Katonah, NY. March 27: TRANSIT & Angelica Negron perform Arenas d'un Tiempo, Pregones Theater, NYC. March 6: World Premiere of Cumba Cumbakin. Commissioned by the Harvard Wind Ensemble. Lowell Hall. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 8pm. 617-496-2263 February 22: Composers Now! Daylong event of panels featuring composers of all genres. Marathon concert and a Proclamation from the Mayor's office. Symphony Space, 95th St./Broadway, NYC. 10AM - 10PM February 20: The Fromm Players at Harvard. Continuum (Cheryl Seltzer and Joel Sachs, directors). John Knowles Paine Concert Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 8pm. February 7: Del Sol String Quartet performs Esencia. Noe Valley Ministry, San Francisco, CA, 4pm. | ||
A vital personality on today's music scene, León is highly regarded as a composer and conductor recognized for her accomplishments as an educator
and advisor to arts organizations. León "has distinguished herself as a proponent
of music without category beyond a standard of excellence," remarked long-time
music commentator Howard Mandel in an article for Ear Magazine.