23/24 Composer in Residence
Award-winning pianist, composer, and bandleader George Burton has been called a lot of things— “formidable” (NPR), “charismatic” (The New York Times), “revolutionary” (Nextbop), “soulful” (Philadelphia Inquirer); his music “multidimensional” (Phila. Inq.), “sublime” (NPR). Burton will compose two new works for Choral Chameleon during the 2023-2024 concert season and will serve as a guest faculty member in Composition during the June 2024 Institute for Composers. Welcome to the Choral Chameleon family, George! We're so excited to have you with us!
What has become abundantly clear over the years is that, while Burton has established himself as a visionary and prolific force both on record and in the live jazz scene, attempting to categorize Burton’s artistry is not only limiting but becomes increasingly impossible the more you hear. With a slew of film festival honors and an NAACP Image Awards nomination for his sophomore project, Reciprocity, in 2021, George Burton has secured notoriety as a standout amongst his peers who consistently turn heads across the jazz spectrum and beyond.
“Pianist George Burton is nonetheless a different beast in concert than he is on record. This critic has rarely, in 11 years and hundreds of concerts, seen a musician who fed off the energy of the room as voraciously as Burton.” — THE WASHINGTON POST
Composer in Residence Program
Choral Chameleon is deeply committed to bringing new choral work to life and we are diehard champions of living composers. In addition to cultivating new compositions and arrangements from within the singing membership of the choirs, themselves, as well as during the Summer Institute, there are year-long residencies for composers whose work aligns especially well with the values and mission of the company.
The Composer-in-Residence is a position that is filled by invitation of the Artistic Director as needed (usually every two years). During the residency, the composer works closely with the AD in the planning and creation of an entire concert season (1 year - August through June) and writes new works for each concert on that season's program which are based on the overarching themes selected by the AD. The texts for the new compositions are co-selected by both. The resident is present in NYC for the premieres of all the new works, and often gives pre or post-concert talks and Q&A sessions. CIRs have often joined the Institute faculty, and all have continuing relationships with the organization.
Choral Chameleon's Composer-in-Residence program was extensively featured in 2020 Winter Edition of Chorus America's 'The Voice' Magazine, where you can read more perspective from Choral Chameleon's Founding Artistic Director Vince Peterson. (That's us on the cover!)
Past Composers in Residence
Dale Trumbore (18-19)
Rex Isenberg (16-17)
Adam Ward (13-14)
Joseph Gregorio (11-12)
Jeffrey Parola (09-10)