For Immediate Release
Contact: BMOP
617.363.0396
Boston, MA (May 23, 2006)

BMOP announces that its 10th anniversary season will open on November 3, 2006 at Jordan Hall. For 10 years BMOP has been Boston's only orchestra dedicated exclusively to performing and recording new music. Led by founding Artistic Director Gil Rose, BMOP is considered to be the premier orchestra for new music in the country.

"It is very rewarding to see BMOP reach its 10th anniversary. After 50 concerts, 40 world premieres, and 12 recordings, such an exciting season and future make all the work seem very worthwhile. We are looking forward to celebrating this milestone with some of the world's best composers and soloists. This season really gives us a chance to show what we are about," said Rose.

The 2006-07 season includes seven orchestral performances. Highlights include the world premiere performances of new works by Betsy Jolas, Michael Gandolfi, Eric Sawyer, and Evan Ziporyn, and the North American premiere of Steven Mackey's Dreamhouse with soloist Rinde Eckert.

Dreamhouse will anchor a special 10th anniversary celebration presented by the Bank of America Celebrity Series, which also features Anthony DeRitis's Devolution, a concerto for DJ and orchestra, with Paul D. Miller a.k.a. DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid. This program will conclude BMOP's season on May 19, 2007.

Other soloists confirmed at this time include saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky, who will perform a new concerto by Michael Gandolfi, and The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, which will perform Möbius Loop, a work composed for them by Mathew Rosenblum. The Gandolfi and Rosenblum works will be performed on BMOP's 9th annual Boston Connection concert on January 20, 2007. This year's Boston Connection concert will feature NEC alumni composers, as well as the winner of the 8th Annual BMOP/NEC Concerto Competition and the score selected from the 9th Annual Composition Contest.

On March 9, 2007, the French-American Fund for Contemporary Music will sponsor a program that recognizes three generations of contemporary French composers. For this concert Betsy Jolas is writing a new orchestral work to celebrate BMOP's 10th anniversary and her 80th birthday. The program also includes works by Pascal Dusapin and Bruno Mantovani.

BMOP also announces that composer-vocalist Lisa Bielawa will join the orchestra as Composer in Residence for three years beginning in October 2006. BMOP is one of six orchestras nationwide to be awarded an extended Music Alive residency, a program of Meet the Composer and the American Symphony Orchestra League.

"This opportunity to work closely with Gil, develop new work with the players and immerse myself in the community will doubtless ensure a vital, richly fulfilling three years of music-making," said Bielawa.

BMOP's season opening event on November 3, 2006 will feature two orchestral works by Bielawa, including one that features Bielawa as soprano soloist. During her residency Bielawa will write two new works for BMOP, including a double violin concerto for Colin Jacobsen and Carla Kihlstedt. All of BMOP's performances will be recorded for a commercial CD to be released in 2009.

As Composer in Residence Bielawa will host BMOP's pre-concert talks, curate the popular Club Concerts series in the Moonshine Room at Club Café, and mentor young composers in local high schools and colleges. Drawing from her role as co-Director of the New York-based MATA festival, Bielawa will organize a young composers contest and concert for BMOP's 2007-08 season.

In addition to BMOP's appearance on the Bank of America Celebrity Series, Amherst College will present BMOP in a concert performance of Eric Sawyer's new opera Our American Cousin.

Over the course of the season, BMOP will record 14 works for commercial release, including 3 complete CDs: Steven Mackey's Dreamhouse, Eric Sawyer's Our American Cousin, and a complete CD of Louis Andriessen music. All of BMOP's recordings are world premiere recordings.

PRESS please note: Current high-resolution photographs of Artistic Director Gil Rose and Composer in Residence Lisa Bielawa are available to download. Please use these images instead of any already on file. Interviews can be arranged through the BMOP office (617.363.0396).

10th Anniversary Season At-a-Glance

11.3.06, 8:00pm
Program Notes with the evening's composers at 7:00pm
Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory
BMOP presents a season opening event featuring Composer in Residence Lisa Bielawa. Program also includes works by Derek Bermel and John Zorn.

12.5.06, 7:00pm
Doors open for food and drink at 6:00pm
Moonshine Room at Club Café
Club Concert

1.20.07, 8:00pm
Program Notes with the evening's composers at 7:00pm
Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory
BMOP presents its 9th Annual Boston Connection concert featuring NEC alumni composers Mathew Rosenblum, David Rakowski, and Michael Gandolfi (world premiere), plus the selected score from the 9th annual BMOP/NEC composition contest and the winner of the 8th annual BMOP/NEC concerto competition. Soloists include saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky, and The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet.

2.6.07, 7:00pm
Doors open for food and drink at 6:00pm
Moonshine Room at Club Café
Club Concert

3.9.07, 8:00pm
Program Notes with the evening's composers at 7:00pm
Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory
The French-American Fund for Contemporary Music and BMOP present a program featuring French composers Betsy Jolas (world premiere), Pascal Dusapin, and Bruno Mantovani.

3.31.07, 8:00pm
Buckley Hall at Amherst College
Amherst College presents BMOP performing Eric Sawyer's opera Our American Cousin (world premiere, concert performance).

4.3.07, 7:00pm
Doors open for food and drink at 6:00pm
Moonshine Room at Club Café
Club Concert

5.19.07, 8:00pm
Sanders Theatre at Harvard University
The Bank of America Celebrity Series presents BMOP performing Steven Mackey's Dreamhouse with soloist Rinde Eckert; Anthony DeRitis's Devolution, a concerto for DJ and orchestra, with Paul D. Miller a.k.a. DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid; and a new work by Evan Ziporyn (world premiere).