Friends of Today's Music
Friends of Today's Music was established in 1986. With a firm commitment to the music of our time, and indeed to the future of classical music, FTM has sponsored the creation of a wide variety of significant works, written especially for students by many of today's leading, internationally renowned composers. Each commissioned work is premiered by young musicians during the MTAC convention while the audience follows along with the published score. This innovative program brings composer, performer, and audience together for an adventure into the music of today.
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Friends of Today's Music Commissions Composer Katrina WreedeJoin us with Katrina Wreede: Ms. Wreede (pronounced Reedie) will compose a new quintet for piano and string quartet aimed at intermediate level students. This work may also be expanded to piano and string orchestra. This is an outstanding opportunity for young students to experience the joy of performing chamber music and also to work closely with the composer. Teachers interested in submitting students to perform the premiere during the MTAC Convention June 28-July 2, 2013 in Santa Clara should contact FTM chair: |
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Katrina Wreede, award-winning composer and internationally recognized violist, is a tireless proponent for promoting improvisation on string instruments, viola playing of all kinds, and hands-on musical experiences for young people. With over 30 years experience in individual and ensemble instruction and a nationwide reputation for creating compelling and inspirational compositions and classroom workshops, she thrives on developing and sharing exciting opportunities for the next generation to explore the tools they’ll need to take music forward. Besides creating the “Composing Together”, “My Goldfish Died-Blues for Strings” and “The Teddy Bear Picnic-Introducing Composition to Beginning Musicians” programs, Wreede is a founding faculty member of the John Adams Young Composer Program at the Crowden School, teaches Comprehensive Musicianship for the San Francisco Community Music Center, and is an accredited Teaching Artist for the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. She began her work bringing youth to composition in 1998, when she became “Composer in the Schools” for the American Composers Forum-San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, later creating their handbook for professional composers learning to work with young people. She has provided teacher training for American String Teachers Assoc, the Montana String Teachers Assoc., Bronxville Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District, and Nevada County School District and has taught for Oakland Youth Symphony, Young People’s Youth Symphony, Berkeley Youth Symphony, California Youth Symphony, and many schools around the country. Wreede composes for both the traditional concert stage and unusual venues, like her “Drive-By Violas” project inside a Boston fruit stand and bus kiosk, concerts at the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver, and the “Living Wind Chimes” filling the lobby of a Federal Building with calming bells and many teenagers. She has been a professional symphony musician, a member of the ground-breaking Turtle Island String Quartet, a concert soloist, a belly dancer, a police finger-printer, a strolling, rhinestone-studded “big violinist” for royalty, a non-denominational wedding officiant, a student of Tango Nuevo, Persian, and Roma music and a composer and performer for chamber ensembles, orchestras, silent film, and dance. Her compositions are performed internationally including by the Ahn Trio, David Parsons Dance Troupe, the Omaha Symphony, Boston Chamber Orchestra, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Chamber Players, Turtle Island String Quartet, and Orchestra Rosario in Argentina. Her work appears on dozens of CDs, and her solo CD of original jazz and classical works for viola, “Add Viola and Stir”, is heard world-wide on radio and streaming sites. Listen to "ADD VIOLA AND STIR" CD at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/katrinawreede |
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Friends of Today's Music Commissioned Works are made possible through the generous support of the Aaron Copland Fund, the Beyster Family Foundation and individual donations. Anonymous, individual and MTAC member contributions are accepted throughout the year. Please contact the Operations Administrator, , or phone (800) 834-3340 or (415) 978-9668.
Commissioned Composers
- Katrina Wreede, 2013 Commissioned Composer
- David Amram, 2012 Commissioned Composer
- Robert Aldridge, 2011 Commissioned Composer
- David Rakowski, 2010 Commissioned Composer
- Chen Yi, 2009 Commissioned Composer
- Paul Chihara, 2008 Commissioned Composer
- Gabriela Lena Frank, 2007 Commissioned Composer
- William Bolcom, 2006 Commissioned Composer
- Libby Larsen, 2005 Commissioned Composer
Works with * denote recorded and commercially available.
Year |
Composer |
Title |
Publisher |
| 2013 | Katrina Wreede | Piano Quintet For Piano and String Quartet |
Vlazville Publishing |
| 2012 | David Amram | Cancion de Verano For Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
| 2011 | Robert Aldridge | Three Waltzes For Piano |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
| 2010 | David Rakowski | Étude-Fantasies For Piano Four Hands |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
| 2009 | Chen Yi | From Old Peking Folklore For Violin and Piano |
Theodore Presser |
| 2008 | Paul Chihara | Fantasy Trio for Flute (Violin), Cello and Piano |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
| 2007 | Gabriela Lena Frank | Danza de los Saqsampillos For Two Pianos |
G. Schirmer |
| 2006 | William Bolcom | *Nine New Bagatelles For Piano |
E. B. Marks Music, Hal Leonard |
| 2005 | Libby Larsen | PentaMetrics For Piano |
Oxford University Press |
| 2004 | Steven Stucky | *Meditation and Dance For Clarinet and Piano |
Theodore Presser |
| 2003 | Judith Lang Zaimont | In My Lunchbox For Piano (intermediate) |
Vivace Press |
| 2002 | Melissa Hui | *and blue sparks burn For Violin and Piano |
Available through MTAC |
| 2001 | Robert Maggio | Dreams from Childhood Piano Duet (intermediate) |
Theodore Presser |
| 2000 | Bruce Adolphe | Well, It’s Not exactly Beethoven For Piano |
PollyRhythm Productions |
| 1999 | Martin Rokeach | *can’t wait Violin ( flute) Clarinet & Piano |
Roncorp Publications |
| 1998 | Vivian Fung | Scherzo Violin, Cello & Piano |
Available through MTAC |
| 1997 | Samuel Adler | *Concerto No. 2 For Piano & Orchestra |
Theodore Presser |
| 1996 | Samuel Zyman | Two Motions in One Movement For Piano |
Theodore Presser |
| 1995 | Seymour Bernstein | Fantasy on a Theme by Francisco For Piano |
G. Schirmer |
| 1994 | Stephen Hartke | The Piano Dreams of Empire For Piano |
MMB Music, Inc. |
| 1993 | Donald Waxman | Arabesques and Ostinato For Two Pianos |
Galaxy Music Corp. (ECS) |
| 1992 | Emma Lou Diemer | Three Piano Pieces | Plymouth Music/Elkin Music |
| 1991 | Gunther Schuller | Music For Young People Flute and Piano Trio |
AMP/Schirmer |
| 1990 | David Ott | *Sinfonia for Cello and Piano | Park Music Press |
| 1989 | Samuel Adler | *The Road to Terpsichore For Piano |
G. Schirmer |
| 1988 | William Albright | *The Machine Age For Piano |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
| 1987 | Leslie Bassett | *Configurations For Piano |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
| 1986 | Richard Felciano | Five Short Piano Pieces | Available through MTAC |
For more information, contact:
- Friends of Today's Music and Contemporary Music Seminar State Chair,
Last modified 09/26/12, 18:10:34 EDT.

