For the past ten years, MATA has been dedicated to commissioning and presenting works by young composers from around the world. MATA's directors are motivated by a desire to create community among young musicians, especially those whose work defies definition and doesn't fit into existing institutions. By providing young composers with a professional performance of their work, access to first-rate performers and valuable connections to colleagues, MATA nurtures their entry into American musical life.
Founded in 1996 by Philip Glass, Eleonor Sandresky, and Lisa Bielawa, MATA presents pieces by young composers on a week-long festival, held each spring in New York City. This festival always features several works that MATA has commissioned specifically for the festival, performed by professional musicians from around the world. To date, MATA has commissioned 39 works, and has presented over 120 performances of pieces by young composers. The commissioned works have represented a broad range of media including Harry Partch instrumentarium, solo voice with quadraphonic live electronics, gamelan ensemble and full orchestra.
MATA
holds an annual open call for scores, from which a panel of established
composers selects composers who will participate in that year's festival.
For most of these composers, the performance of their work on the MATA Festival
represents one of their first commissions, and their first significant exposure
to New York audiences. MATA prides itself on giving young composers an outlet
for their work, thereby helping them aquire the skills necessary to begin
their musical career.
STAFF
Missy
Mazzoli, Executive Director
Composer/Performer
Christopher
McIntyre, Artistic Director
Composer/Performer
Dan Bora, Production Manager
Jenni Bowman, Stage Manager
Sam Crawford, Audio Engineer
Dan Scully, Lighting Designer
Gordon Beeferman, Operations Manager
Stephen Taylor, Photography/Video
April
Thibeault, Public Relations
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Jim Rosenfield, President
Consultant,
Author, Speaker
Theodore
Wiprud, Vice President
Composer; Director of Education, New York Philharmonic
Russell
C. Pomeranz , Treasurer
Manager,
Fiscal Management Associates
Joan
La Barbara, Secretary
Composer/Vocalist;
Vice President, Electronic Music Foundation
Ellen
Brody Hughes, Executive Committee
Community
Leader
Philip
Glass, Executive Producer
Composer; Director, Aurora Music Foundation; Director, Dunvagen Music Publishing
Missy
Mazzoli, Executive Director (ex-officio)
Composer/Performer
Christopher
McIntyre, Artistic Director (ex-officio)
Composer/Performer
Lisa
Bielawa, Artistic Director Emeritus
Composer/Performer;
Composer-In-Residence, Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Eleonor
Sandresky, Artistic Director Emeritus
Composer/Performer
Laurie
Anderson
Composer/Performer
Ralph
N. Jackson
President,
BMI Foundation, Inc.
Grethe
Barrett Holby
Opera
Director/Producer; Founding Executive Artistic Director, Family Opera Initiative;
Founder, American Opera Projects, Inc
Zona
Hostetler, Esq.
Attorney at Law; Director, The Randy Hostetler Living Room Music Project
Aaron
Jay Kernis
Composer;
New Music Advisor, Minnesota Orchestra; Professor of Composition, Yale University
James
Matheson
Composer; Composer-in-Residence, Phillips Academy (Andover)
John
L. Stewart
Director,
JLS Collections