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Long a collaborator with other composers, award winning composer Adrienne Albert began writing her own music in the early 1990s. In little more than a decade, her concert works have been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Thailand, and South Africa.
Her most recent commissions include a Piano Trio (2005), "Weaver of Dreams", a choral work for the Kenai Central High School, Renee C. Henderson, music director (2005), original music for "Finding Claire" directed by Susan Einhorn in New York, NY (2005) and a new work for string orchestra (2005). She wrote original music for a production of "Cyrano de Bergerac", also directed by Susan Einhorn at the University of Maryland (2004).
Ms. Albert has been Composer-In-Residence for The Wagner Ensemble, under the directions of Jeannine Wagner, and The Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra who commissioned two orchestral works, "Courage" (2000) and "Western Suite"(1999) Both were premiered by LADSO on the West Coast and have had numerous performances throughout the United States including The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra in Alaska.
In February of 2002, new pieces for Alto Saxophone, clarinet and soprano saxophone were premiered by Doug Masek and Ayke Agus, pianist. Her commission by the fabled jazz harpist, Corky Hale, titled "Fanta z". was premiered in Beverly Hills, CA (2003) with Marcia Dickstein, harpist with The Debussy Trio and The Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra. A sonata for bassoon and piano titled "Circadia"(2002) was commissioned and premiered by Dr. Carolyn Beck in Redlands, CA Other recent works include "Fanfare for 13 Brass" which was performed by the Hollywood Brass Ensemble and "Doppler Effect" for Flute, Viola and Harp was premiered by Entr'amis. In 2003, 2004 brought performances of "Boundaries for String Orchestra" with The Pennsylvania Academy of Music, Michael Jamanis conducting. The Gregg Smith Singers in New York City premiered her choral work, "Meditation".
A second Meet The Composer Grant was awarded for her choral work, "Night" performed by The Gregg Smith Singers in Saranac Lake, NY. She has received consecutive ASCAP Awards for the last seven years, and has received several Margaret Jory Music Copying Assistance Program grants. She was a finalist in Continental Harmony Projects in 2000 and 2002. The American Jazz Philharmonic commissioned Ms. Albert to compose "Serenade For Alto Sax, Trumpet and Orchestra" for the Henry Mancini Institute at which she conducted the premiere at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA. in August of 1997.
Ms. Albert received another Meet The Composers Grant for her orchestral piece, "Images" at which she also conducted the premiere performance. Adrienne is currently working on several commissions including a song cycle for the noted bass/baritone, Richard Bernstein, another song cycle for noted tenor, Darryl Taylor, a commission for a mixed quartet of saxophone, clarinet, violin and cello to be performed at UCLA (2006). She will be Composer-in-Residence at Cal State Sacramento in May of 2005, and several programs of her works will be presented in the spring of 2005 in Palos Verdes, CA, Los Angeles, CA and Sacramento, CA. More information about Adrienne and her works may be found on her website: http://www.adriennealbert.com.
A graduate of UCLA in music and the child of professional violinists, Ms. Albert began studying the piano at age 4 and composition at 10. She studied piano with Jacob Gimpel and Aube Tzerko in Los Angeles, with Joanna Graudan at the Aspen Music School and composition with Leonard Stein, Stephen "Lucky" Mosko at CalArts, and orchestration with Albert Harris.
Her vocal career began while attending UCLA, singing with The Gregg Smith Singers and The Roger Wagner Chorale. Igor Stravinsky discovered her "perfect boy alto" voice and hired her to be the alto soloist on his "Mass". She worked with the Maestro on numerous occasions and recorded three more solo recordings with him including his "Four Russian Songs" For Flute, Harp, Guitar, and Voice", "Cantata", and Stravinsky's last song, "The Owl And The Pussycat" with Robert Craft accompanying. Other solo recordings include songs of Charles Ives with The Columbia Symphony and Phillip Glass' opera, The Photographer, with Glass conducting.
Ms. Albert also enjoyed a long working relationship with Leonard Bernstein and was both singer and contractor on the celebrated recording of his "Mass", (the premiere of which opened the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC), and "West Side Story" on which she performed with Kiri Te Kanawa and Jose Carreras. Ms. Albert sang at Bernstein's 70th birthday celebration in Tanglewood under the baton of John Williams, and at Avery Fisher Hall with Gunther Schuller and the New York Philharmonic in a premiere of Schuller's Symphonia for Four Voices and Orchestra. As a studio singer in New York and Los Angeles, Ms. Albert worked with such diverse artists as Pablo Casals, Benny Golson, Dave Grusin, Lieber and Stoller, Zubin Mehta, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Tilson Thomas. As an arranger/conductor, Adrienne arranged the Negro spirituals for Sidney Lumet's movie, "Daniel" and conducted the choir for "The Verdict". Her eclectic musical background ranges from avant- 20th-21st century vocal and choral music to folk music, jazz, and popular music.
Ms. Albert is the current President of the Los Angeles Alumni chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity, a member of SAG, AFTRA, The American Music Center, the American Composers Forum, International Alliance for Women In Music, NACUSA, The Dominant Club and ASCAP. Her music is published by Kenter Canyon Music (ASCAP) and some of her works can also be purchased through Theodore Front Music Literature. More about and Kenter Canyon Music can be found on her website: www.adriennealbert.com.
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Music has always been a central part of my life. Whether it has been performing, singing, or composing, it is the thread that weaves through each part of my being. I find joy in every form of music, and my life has been an eclectic patchwork of music ranging from avant- garde 20th century vocal and choral music to Baroque, ethnic, folk music, jazz, popular, and of course, classical music. We are each an amalgam of our pasts, influenced by our individual experiences, and I have been extremely fortunate in having an extraordinary past which informs my present and makes me look forward with great enthusiasm to the future.
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Homer, AK
The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra plans to celebrate the common spirit and sense of place with a new piece about the Kenai Peninsula.
learn more about this project
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Homer Tribune article, April 25, 2007
Homer News article, April 26, 2007
Anchorage Daily News article, May 1, 2007
Peninsula Clarion article, April 26, 2007
Homer Tribune article, June 21, 2006
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