Michael John Trotta Named 'Distinguished Composer & Conductor' by MidAmerica Productions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

MICHAEL JOHN TROTTA NAMED “DISTINGUISHED COMPOSER & CONDUCTOR” 

 

Appointment is First of Its Kind in History of MidAmerica Productions and MidAm International

 

NEW YORK, NY, July 11, 2019 – Peter Tiboris today named Michael John Trotta as the first “Distinguished Composer & Conductor” in the history of MidAmerica Productions (MAP) and MidAm International. The appointment takes effect immediately. 

“The purpose of this first-ever appointment by  MAP and MidAm,” declares Mr. Tiboris, “is to foster the creation, performance and growth of the music of Mr. Trotta not only in New York’s Carnegie Hall but at venues in other music world capitals such as London, Paris, Vienna, Prague, Athens and Lisbon; he will also be the conductor of these concerts.” 

He adds, “Dr. Trotta has distinguished himself with his important musical voice, as he has demonstrated three times on our Carnegie Hall concert series, including the world premiere of Seven Last Words in 2017. We are thrilled to have him as part of our 38th year and beyond.” 

Dr. Trotta says, “I am delighted to continue my collaboration with MAP, which over the past few years has featured three Carnegie Hall premieres (Veni, Veni, Emmanuel; Seven Last Words; and Gloria). The coming seasons will feature Carnegie Hall premieres of several new major works which I am currently completing, and the world premiere of a new composition for full orchestra.  

“Over 20 years ago,” he continues, “I had the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall as part of a choir thanks to MAP. Since that time, I have returned, first as a conductor, then as a composer, and most recently as a composer and conductor. This new partnership promises to provide new avenues of community building through music in a world-class venue. Also, it is a sign that the ‘modern masterwork’ is very much alive and thriving in America and all over the world." 

The next MidAmerica Productions performance to feature Dr. Trotta is scheduled for June 22, 2020, during which he will conduct the New York premiere of his Magnificat at Carnegie Hall.

 

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

About Michael John Trotta

 

Fueled by a passion to share new music that engages conductors, ensembles, and audiences alike, Michael John Trotta (b.1978) is fast becoming one of the most “exciting and prominent new composers of choral music.” (Fanfare) Drawing on his experience as a conductor and clinician, he brings artistry and excellence within reach for thousands of musicians each year. 

From Carnegie Hall to classrooms all over the world, Dr. Trotta’s unique blend of engaging and artistic music creates opportunities to experience new music and empowers individuals to realize their artistic potential. His engaging style fuses tradition and innovation to create moments of beauty that “effectively carry out a dialogue between the [music] and the modern listener.” (Choral Journal) 

Prior to his work as a full-time composer, his experience as an educator at the elementary, middle school, high school, and university levels – as well as a church music director – infuses his works with “an intimate knowledge of the human voice and a rare sensitivity to the capabilities of a choral ensemble.” (Fanfare) This, combined with his degrees in music education and a doctorate in choral conducting, have grounded his style in tradition, which blends with his modern sensibilities to “inform the thoughts and aspirations of the people and the time” (Choral Scholar) and to create “tender harmonies and a palette of glowing vocal and instrumental colors.” (Gramophone) 

Driven by a desire to support hard-working directors who work to bring out the best in their ensembles, Dr. Trotta has developed keynotes that connect conductors to the educational and artistic goals that drew them to the profession in the first place. “Your Perfect Choir,” “Developing Artistry,” and “Empowering Ensembles” create experiences that connect people to the power of music and its ability transcend barriers and teach us more about each other and ourselves. 

An ardent advocate for under-resourced and overworked arts organizations, Dr. Trotta has pioneered the development of the consortium model of commissioning. As a result, the opportunity to premiere a major work for choir and orchestra is now within reach for more choirs than ever before. The inaugural consortium work, Seven Last Words, was heralded as “a “new American masterwork” (TheaterScene.com) at its Carnegie Hall premiere. Passionate about removing barriers to new music and artistic excellence, Dr. Trotta conceived the “Win a Free Commission” initiative, which allows any choir the opportunity to have a work written for them at no cost to the ensemble.

Recently, Dr. Trotta has had world premieres commissioned for conventions at Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), in addition to being invited to conduct premieres of commissioned major works at Carnegie Hall, and at St. Paul’s Papal Basilica in Rome.

His works are published through JW Pepper, Carl Fischer, ECS Publishing, MorningStar Music, Hal Leonard, Choristers Guild, BriLee Music, Shawnee Press, Alliance Music, GIA, Kjos, Colla Voce, and Walton Music. Reviews of his works can be found in Choral Journal, Choral Scholar, and Gramophone. Recordings can be found on iTunes for the following works: For a Breath of Ecstasy, Light Shines in the Darkness, Seven Last Words, Totus Tuus and Gloria. 

When he is not traveling for guest conducting and composer residencies, Dr. Trotta spends his time at the beach in Bay Head, New Jersey, where he lives with his wife Rachel.

www.mjtrotta.com

  

About MidAmerica Productions and MidAm International

 

Peter Tiboris created and conducted his first concert in New York on January 7, 1984, at Lincoln Center, featuring The American Symphony Orchestra, soloists, and three choruses, the Louisiana Chorale of Acadiana, Camerata Singers of Baton Rouge, and Collegiate Chorale of New York. Although he didn’t realize it at the time, Mr. Tiboris had just created his own successful production company, MidAmerica Productions, which was to become the foremost independent producer of choral concerts in Carnegie Hall. During its 37 years, MidAmerica Productions has brought together conductors, soloists, and choral and instrumental ensembles from the U.S. and abroad to appear at New York’s top venues, including Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall; and Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall) at Lincoln Center. 

MidAmerica Productions' concerts have showcased choral groups singing oratorios with talented conductors, full orchestra, and professional soloists; individual instrumental and choral groups performing as part of the Ensemble Spotlight Series; and solo recitals. Diverse programs have included Madrigal Festivals, Vocal Jazz Festivals, National Wind Ensemble, National Festival Youth Orchestra, and Sweet Adelines. Among the renowned guest conductors who have led MidAmerica’s concerts are John Rutter (who has conducted more than 125 concerts in Carnegie Hall), Sherrill Milnes, Lukas Foss, Helmuth Rilling, H. Robert Reynolds, JoAnne Falletta, Michael Morgan, and Jonathan Willcocks. More than 700 conductors have conducted on MidAmerica’s series in New York, sharing the stage with 1100 solo  artists from the world’s greatest opera companies and concert stages, and 3500 choral ensembles from the U.S. and abroad. There have been 170 youth and collegiate orchestras and well as 145 youth and collegiate bands, jazz bands, and wind ensembles.

Over the years, MidAmerica has commissioned new works and presented numerous premieres in Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Its 93 world premieres have included Dinos Constantinides’ Byron’s Greece, Hymn to the Human Spirit, and Midnight Fantasy II for wind ensemble; John Rutter’s Cantate Domino, Distant Land, Magnificat, and Mass of the Children; and John Leavitt’s A Christmas Garland. Its 21 U.S. premieres and 105 New York premieres have featured new and older works such as Mozart’s Die Schuldigkeit des Ersten Gebots, Reimann’s Concerto for Violin and Cello, Tchaikovsky’s Ode to Joy, Mikis Theodorakis’ Electra and Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra, and Rene Clausen’s Hellas: In the Name of Freedom. In 2015, John Rutter conducted the New York premiere of his work, Canticles of Creation. Additional to its Stern Auditorium series, MidAmerica Productions has presented 400 chamber music concerts in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall since 1989.  World-class soloists, chamber ensembles, and members of orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic have appeared on MidAmerica’s chamber music series. 

In 2004 Peter Tiboris founded MidAm International, which produces concerts in major international cultural centers including Vienna, Salzburg, Florence, Verona, Venice, Paris, Prague, Berlin, Warsaw, Krakow, Lisbon, Porto, London, Oxford, Athens, Moscow and St. Petersburg. In 2005, he created the International Festival of the Aegean on the Greek island of Syros where, each July, he presents international-caliber performances of opera, oratorios, concerti, symphonic works, Greek folk music, jazz, theater and ballet. In 2011, the Festival was named “Best cultural organization operating in the wider region of Greece” by the Awards Committee of Music Critics of the Union of Greek Theatre and Music Critics in Athens.

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Media Contact:

 

Daniel Guss                                                                                  MidAmerica Productions, Inc.           

Director of Public Relations and Publications                                    39 Broadway, Suite 3600      

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