Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1951

Genre

:

Symphony

 

Mona Lyn Reese is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1954 in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in a musical family, with her mother being a pianist and her father a composer and conductor. Reese began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the violin and viola. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Fine Arts in Composition. Reese's early compositions were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the works of John Cage and Morton Feldman. Her early works were characterized by their use of extended techniques and unconventional instrumentation. In the 1980s, Reese began to incorporate more traditional elements into her compositions, such as tonality and melody. One of Reese's most notable works is her opera, "The Three Ladies of Ur," which premiered in 1998 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The opera is based on the ancient Sumerian myth of Inanna, the goddess of love and war, and her descent into the underworld. The opera features a libretto by poet Michael S. Harper and incorporates elements of Middle Eastern music and dance. "The Three Ladies of Ur" was well-received by critics and established Reese as a major figure in contemporary opera. Another notable work by Reese is her "Concerto for Viola and Orchestra," which was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and premiered in 2003. The concerto features a solo viola accompanied by a full orchestra and is characterized by its lush harmonies and lyrical melodies. The piece was praised for its emotional depth and virtuosic solo writing. Reese's music has been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Kronos Quartet. She has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to her work as a composer, Reese is also a professor of music at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has mentored numerous young composers and is known for her dedication to promoting diversity and inclusivity in classical music. Overall, Mona Lyn Reese is a highly respected and influential composer in the contemporary classical music world. Her works are characterized by their emotional depth, lyrical melodies, and incorporation of diverse musical influences. Her contributions to the field of opera and her dedication to promoting diversity in classical music have made her a beloved figure among musicians and audiences alike.

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