CAROLYN O’BRIEN
obriencomposer@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2008-2016 Northwestern University, Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition
2004-2007 University of California at Davis, Master of Arts in Music Theory & Composition
1986-1991 Pittsburg State University, KS, Bachelor of Music Education
AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND RESIDENCIES
3Arts Make a Wave Artist 2018 recipient
3Arts Award Nominee, 2018
Fellow at the Willapa Bay AiR, September 2018
Fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Fall 2016
Fellow at the Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice (SICPP), Boston, MA, 2015
Winner of the Sylvia Glickman Prize, IAWM Search for New Music Competition, 2015
Fellow at the RED NOTE New Music Festival Composition Workshop, Normal, IL, Spring 2015
Winner of Call for Scores, UNK New Music Festival, Kearney, NE, March 2015
Winner of Concorde Ensemble Call for Scores, Dublin, Ireland, Winter 2015
Fellow at the Blue Mountain Center, Blue Mountain Lake, NY, Summer 2014
Cortona Sessions for New Music Special Selections, Summer 2014
Fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Fall 2013
Commission and Residency, Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco, CA, 2011
Winner, William T. Faricy Award, Northwestern University, 2011
Fellow at Music ’10 Festival of New Music with eighth blackbird
Charles Ives Scholarship recipient, Academy of Arts and Letters, 2009
Wyatt Fund Grants (9 total), 2009-2016
GAMMA-UT Conference, Austin, TX, 2009
Eckstein Scholarship, Northwestern University, 2008-2011
Composer in Residence—21st Century Music for the People, American Composers Forum, San Francisco, 2007-2008
Fellow at 63rd Annual Composers Conference at Wellesley College, 2007
Winner, Libby Larsen Prize, IAWM Search for New Music Competition, 2007
SCI-ASCAP Student Composition Commission, Second Place, National, 2006
Winner, Bent Frequency Call for Scores, Concert Season 2006-07
Fellow at Music ’06 Festival of New Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, Summer 2006
SCI-ASCAP Student Composition Commission, Region VIII finalist, 2004
Winner, Herb Bielawa Prize for Composition 2003
Paul Waddill Chamber Music Scholarship, 1986-1991
TEACHING HISTORY
TEACHING ASSISTANT/LECTURER
Northwestern University
Fall 2011 Lecturer, General Music for Non-Majors
Winter 2011 Lecturer; Music Composition for Non-Majors
Lecturer, Fall 2008-Spring 2009; Freshmen Aural Skills
University of California at Davis
Winter 2007 Introduction to Music Literature
Fall 2006 History of Jazz
Spring 2006 Music of Mozart
Winter 2006 History of Rock and Roll, Co-Lecturer
Fall 2005 Introduction to Music Theory
Winter 2005 Music of Stravinsky
Spring 2005 Introduction to Music Literature
Fall 2004 Introduction to Music Theory
ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1997-1999 Berkeley USD, Berkeley, CA
1996-1997 San Jose USD, San Jose, CA
1991-1996 Northside ISD, San Antonio, TX
LIST OF WORKS
Plectra, for harp quartet, 2016, premiered by Chicago Harp Quartet, Ear Taxi Festival, Chicago, IL
Wind-up Prelude for piccolo, alto flute and gong tree, 2016 premiered by Meret Bitticks, Shanna Gutierrez and Mabel Kwan, Evanston, IL
Kinetic Suite duo for multiple flutes, toy piano, toy percussion, music box, and gong tree, 2016, premiered by Shanna Gutierrez and Mabel Kwan, Evanston, IL
Sand Dancer, Automaton and Proud Hoofer, for tap dancer, 2016, premiered by Tristan Bruns, Evanston, IL
Cześć Hyła for baritone saxophone, alto flute, bass flute, and flock of chirping bird whistles, 2015-16, premiered by Thomas Snydacker, Meret Bitticks, Shanna Gutierrez and volunteer whistlers, Evanston, IL
Hellbusker for solo electric bass, 2015-16, premiered by Scott Carter Thunes, Evanston, IL
TetherGrowl for solo baritone saxophone, 2015-16, premiered by Thomas Snydacker, Evanston, IL
Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesus Christ, for piccolo, bass flute and toy piano, J.S. Bach, arr. C. O'Brien, 2015-16, premiered by Meret Bitticks, Shanna Gutierrez and Mabel Kwan, Evanston, IL
Ich ruf zu dir for guitar and piano, 2015-16, premiered by Jesse Langen and Mabel Kwan, Evanston, IL
Ritornello for string quartet, 2015, premiered by Momenta Quartet, Bloomington, IL
Coil, Recoil II for B flat clarinet and viola, 2014, premiered at UNK Festival, Kearney, NE
Nocturne for contrabass flute and djembe, 2013, premiered by A/B duo, Chicago, IL
Caprice for solo violin, 2013, premiered by Graeme Jennings, Evanston, IL
Coil, Recoil for alto saxophone and viola, 2012, commissioned by Jan Berry Baker
Three Movements for Chamber Ensemble 2011, commissioned by Lick Wilmerding High School
Escapement for flute (alto/picc), oboe and baritone saxophone, 2011
Thing Contained, for saxophone quartet, 2011, commissioned by Anubis Saxophone Quartet
Impromptu for piccolo, cello, percussion and piano, 2010
Ply for seven players, 2008, premiered by ICE, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Formicary for piano quartet, 2008, commissioned by Society of Composers, Inc. and ASCAP
Three Movements for String Quartet 2008, commissioned by American Composer’s Forum
Electrum for piano trio, 2007, premiere, Composers Conference, Wellesley, MA
Widget for viola, string bass and percussion, 2006, premiered by Empyrean Ensemble, Davis, CA
Conveyance for alto flute, bass clarinet and piano, 2005, premiered by Empyrean Ensemble, Davis, CA
Silver for string quartet, 2005, premiered by Arianna Quartet, Davis, CA
Solace for piano trio, 2003, commissioned by Herb Bielawa Prize for Composition
Ephemera for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano, 2002, premiered by New York New Music Ensemble, San Francisco, CA
Subsume for bass clarinet, 2002, premiered by Karen Wells, San Francisco, CA
Observations for string quartet, 2001, premiered by Left Coast Ensemble, San Francisco, CA
COLLABORATIONS
Tapman Productions, THRUST! choreographed by Tristan Bruns and Kate O'Hanlon, Chicago, IL August 2016
Composer for Empty to Fill, 16’30”
Premiered at Dance Week, San Francisco, 2002
Composer for Nine Valentines, 45’30”
Premiered at Dance Week, San Francisco, 2000
SELECTED RECENT PERFORMANCES
Nois Quartet, Evanston IL, April 2018
Thing Contained for saxophone quartet, rev. SATB 2014
EarTaxi Festival, Chicago, Harp Quartet, Chicago IL, October 2016
Plectra for harp quartet, 2016
Tapman Productions, Chicago, IL, August 2016
THRUST! Tap and modern dance choreographed by Tristan Bruns and Kate O'Hanlon
Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Discovery Series, Chicago, IL August, 2016
Ritornello for string quartet, 2015
Thomas Snydacker, baritone saxophone, Omaha Under the Radar, July, 2016
Tethergrowl for baritone saxophone, 2016
Patchtax Duo, Eve Boltax, viola and Mary Joy Patchett, saxophone, Cambridge, MA, June 2016
Coil, Recoil for alto saxophone and viola, 2012
Symposium-Recital, Eastman School of Music, Jolokia Ensemble and Hanna Hurwitz, Rochester, NY, March 17, 2016
Thing Contained, for saxophone quartet, (SATB version) 2014; Caprice for solo violin, 2013
Doctoral Recital, Northwestern University, March 11, 2016
One hour program with pieces composed during doctoral work at Northwestern University
Hartford New Music Festival, Hartford, CT, November 2015
Thing Contained, for saxophone quartet, (SATB version) 2014
PeepShow Instant Choreography Series, by Striding Lion Choreography, October 2015
Caprice for solo violin, 2013
Summer Institute of Contemporary Performance Practice (SICPP) Boston, MA, June 20, 2015
Coil, Recoil for alto saxophone and viola, 2012
Thomas Snydacker, alto saxophone, Northwestern University, June, 2015
Coil, Recoil for alto saxophone and viola, 2012
Momenta Quartet, RED NOTE New Music Festival, April 1, 2015
Ritornello for string quartet, 2015
Concorde Ensemble, Elaine Clark, violin, Dublin Ireland, January 25, 2015
Caprice for solo violin, 2013
Bent Frequency, Jan Berry Baker and Tania Maxwell Clements, Atlanta, GA, December 4, 2014
Coil, Recoil for alto saxophone and viola, 2012
Ari Streisfeld, New Music on the Point, VT and Cortona Sessions, Italy, June and July 2014
Caprice for solo violin, 2013
Sean Hurlburt, alto saxophone and Erin Rafferty, viola, Northwestern University, May 31, 2014
Coil, Recoil for alto saxophone and viola, 2012
ab duo premiere, Spectrum in NYC, March 16, 2014
Nocturne for contrabass flute and djembe
A/B duo, The Green Mill, Chicago, IL, premiere December 2013,
Nocturne, for contrabass flute and djembe, 2013
Graeme Jennings, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, premiere February 2013
Caprice for solo violin, 2013
Jan Berry Baker and Tania Maxwell Clements, World Saxophone Congress, St. Andrews Scotland, July 2012
Coil, Recoil, for alto saxophone and viola, 2012
Lick-Wilmerding High School Orchestra, San Francisco, CA, December 2011
Three Movements for Chamber Ensemble, 2011
Dal Niente Presents, commissioned for world premiere, Evanston, IL, June 2011
Escapement, for flute (alto/picc), oboe and baritone saxophone
Anubis Saxophone Concert, commissioned for world premiere, Chicago, IL, May 2011
Thing Contained, for saxophone quartet
Music10 Festival of New Music with eighth blackbird, Blonay, Switzerland, June 2010
Impromptu, for piccolo, cello, percussion and piano
GAMMA-UT Conference, UT Austin, TX, March 2009
Electrum for piano trio
Trio Phonos: Harry Sparnaay, Peter Bacchus, Jean Pierre Dupuy, Barcelona, Alicante and Madrid, Spain November-December, 2008
Conveyance for alto flute, bass clarinet, and piano
International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Chicago, IL, March 2008
Ply for seven players
San Francisco Community Music Center Ensemble, San Francisco, CA, May 2008
Three Movements for String Quartet
SCI National Conference, neoPhonia New Music Ensemble, Atlanta, GA, Winter 2008
Formicary, for piano quartet
International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Binghamton, NY, March 2008
Electrum for piano trio
63rd Annual Composers Conference at Wellesley College, Summer 2007
Electrum for piano trio
Empyrean Ensemble, University of California at Davis, Spring 2007
Electrum for piano trio
Bent Frequency Call for Scores, Atlanta, GA, October 2006
Conveyance for alto flute, bass clarinet, and piano
Music ’06, Cincinnati Conservatory Music Festival, Summer 2006
Conveyance for alto flute, bass clarinet, and piano
Empyrean Ensemble, University of California at Davis, Spring 2006
Widget for viola, string bass, and piano
Empyrean Ensemble, University of California at Davis, Spring 2005
Conveyance for alto flute, bass clarinet, and piano
Arianna String Quartet, University of California at Davis, Spring 2005
Silver for string quartet
SFSU Chamber Music Ensemble, San Francisco State University, Spring 2003
Solace for piano trio
New York New Music Ensemble, San Francisco State University, Fall 2002
Ephemera for Pierrot ensemble
Karen Wells, San Francisco State University, Spring 2002
Subsume for bass clarinet
Left Coast Ensemble, San Francisco State University, Fall 2001
Observations for string quartet
LECTURES, COLLOQUIUA, PRESENTATIONS, INTERVIEWS
Composers Colloquium, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, March 2018
Composers Colloquium, University of Texas-Austin, Austin, Texas, February 2018
Composers Colloquium, Texas State University, Texas, February 2018
Lecture and presentation, MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH, November 2016
Pre-concert talk, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Chicago, IL August 2016
Lecture and presentation, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, March 2016
Interview with Ellen McSweeney for NewMusicBox.org, September 2015
Build the Playground: Carolyn O'Brien on Composing Through Depression
Lecture and presentation, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, October 2015
Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice, New England Conservatory, Boston, MA, June 2015
RED NOTE New Music Festival, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL, April 2015
Pre-concert talk, RHA Gallery, Concorde Ensemble, Dublin, Ireland, January 2015
Lecture, Dublin Institute of Technology, Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin, Ireland, January 2015
Pre-concert talk, Bent Frequency, Atlanta, GA, December 2014
Lecture and presentation, Georgia State University, December 2014
Lecture and presentation, MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH, November 2014
Composers Colloquium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, June 2014
Composers Colloquium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, May 2014
Interview with Ellen McSweeney for NewMusicBox.org, December 2013
Carolyn O'Brien: Making Music as Tactile as Possible
Pre-concert talk, Dinosaur Annex, Boston, MA, October 2012
Pre-concert talk, Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco, CA, December 2011
Lecture and presentation, Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco, CA, December 2011
Lecture and presentation, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, June 2011
Composers Colloquium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, May 2011
Pre-concert Talk: An Interview with Lee Hyla, ensemble dal niente, Chicago, IL April 2011
Lecture and Presentation, Columbia College, Chicago, IL, April 2011
Presentation for fellows and Stephen Hartke, Music 10 Festival of New Music, Blonay, Switzerland, June 2010
Lecture and Presentation, Columbia College, Chicago, IL, April 2010
Lecture and Presentation, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL, September 2009
Composers Colloquium, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, September 2008
Pre-concert talk, San Francisco Community Music Center Ensemble, CA, May 2008
Presentation for composition fellows and Mario Davidovsky, Wellesley, MA, July 2007
63rd Annual Composers Conference at Wellesley
Presentation for composition fellows and Derek Bermel, Cincinnati, OH, June 2006
Music '06 Festival of New Music
Composers Colloquium, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, April 2006
Pre-concert talk, Bent Frequency, Atlanta, GA, March 2006
Composers Colloquium, San Francisco, State University, March 2003
Composers Colloquium, San Francisco, State University, May 2002
TEACHING CAREER AND OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
1991-1999 Quadrupled orchestra student enrollment in all schools
1991-1996 Student groups received superior ratings at Texas UIL contests
1991-1996 Freelance Conductor, substitute with San Antonio Youth Symphony
1995-1997 Principal Violist, University of Texas at San Antonio Symphony
1992-1996 Violist, Victoria Symphony, Victoria, TX
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
American Composer’s Forum
ASCAP
International Alliance for Women in Music
New Music USA