The Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Long Center for the Performing Arts announce the second annual Texas Young Composers Concert. This special concert will take place April 26 and will present the world premiere of nine new orchestral works composed by Texas students age 18 and younger.
One of the composers chosen to have his piece premiered by the Austin Symphony is Alamo Heights High school sophomore Jack Roberts. Roberts' “Into the West” is one of nine compositions chosen for this concert. Roberts is the only San Antonio-area student whose work is being presented at this year's TYC concert.
An aspiring musician and self-taught composer, Roberts has created 11 works of music in his two-year composing career. Roberts is both a pianist and saxophonist and has earned all-state awards from the Texas Federation of Music Clubs State Piano Competition.
Roberts has arranged stand tunes for the Alamo Heights High School marching band and has composed original works for the Alamo Heights wind ensemble.
He hopes to pursue a career in music composition. His dream is to compose for motion pictures and television, according to a news release. Roberts will study with Dr. Donald Grantham, Frank C. Erwin Jr. Centennial Professor of Composition at the University of Texas at Austin, starting this spring and hopes to pursue a music composition major at UT-Austin or the University of Southern California.
Compositions were chosen from 26 entries to the Austin Symphony's annual Young Composers Competition held last fall. Two of the compositions submitted were premiered during the ASO's High School Concerts Tour in January.
"This competition and concert series is a new initiative of the ASO,” stated ASO Education Director Diana Eblen in the release.
"This concert will premiere the top nine entries and is a wonderful addition to the ASO Education programs. It is very difficult for young composers to have their composition played by a professional orchestra. Many orchestras are not willing to take a chance on the new works and the young composers. It is our hope that the ASO's Young Composers Competition and Texas Young Composers Concert will continue to encourage young Texas composers and nurture future masterpieces.”
Tickets for the Texas Young Composers Concert are available at the Austin Symphony box office, 512-476-6064, or the Long Center box office, 512-474-LONG. General Admission seats are $8.
