A ONE-OF-A-KIND CREATIVE ADVENTURE FOR COMPOSERS
Explore the inspiring wilderness of Alaska's backcountry, compose music about it, and have it premiered by top performers.
Composing in the Wilderness is presented by the FAIRBANKS SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL in partnership with ALASKA GEOGRAPHIC, the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, and the U.S FOREST SERVICE.
Composing in the Wilderness is not a class or a workshop, but a shared wilderness experience for adventurous composers across all styles and levels. We welcome professionals, as well as university faculty members and students.
ABOUT COMPOSING IN THE WILDERNESS
Now in its twelfth year, this unusual field course is offered by the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in collaboration with Alaska Geographic and the National Park Service. It is led by wilderness-focused composer Stephen Lias.
Working with experienced guides, naturalists, and scientists, we take composers into the backcountry of Alaska's wilderness and provide them with an intense and immersive adventure. With this as their inspiration, the composers then have the opportunity to compose original music that is premiered by top-notch contemporary music performers on staff at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival (and other ensembles).
Nan Eagleson (Naturalist from the Murie Science and Learning Center) and Stephen Lias
The "Denali Adventure" field course (started in 2012), allows composers to spend four days in the back country of Denali National Park, and then three days in a secluded location to compose. Returning to Fairbanks, the group meets up with Corvus and their new pieces are rehearsed and then premiered. Usually we present concerts both in Fairbanks and in the visitors center of Denali National Park.
In some years, we offer an additional trip that is more immersive and remote. For these trips, the composers have more time to write their pieces which are then premiered in New York City. These have included a week-long canoe trip above the Arctic Circle (2018), an epic sea-kayaking trip in Prince William Sound (2019), a challenging backpacking trip in a remote area of the Chugach Mountains (2022), and a base-camping trip in Lake Clark National Park (2023). The resulting pieces have been premiered in New York City at the iconic Federal Hall National Memorial.
Each year, our group is made up of a diverse group of composers from all levels of their career (student, professional, professor, freelance), and from many countries around the world. We value this diversity and encourage applicants of all ages, nationalities, and walks of life.
It is the mission of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival to help participants awaken their inner artist; enrich lives by increasing personal and professional growth; and engage the spirit, intellect and energy in an empowering way. Composing in the Wilderness supports this vision by providing a life-changing artistic adventure, a deep sense of community, and a genuine connection to wilderness.
2023 members of Corvus (L to R): Katie Cox (flute), Joe Bergen (percussion), Mara Mayer (clarinet), Mariel Roberts (cello), Andie Tanning (violin), Alex LoRe (saxophone).
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS:
Drawing on experts in every discipline, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival brings together high-level musicians, chefs, dancers, actors, photographers, and artists of all types for two intense weeks in July. The resident contemporary music ensemble for the festival (Corvus) is comprised of mostly New-York-based performers with deep Alaskan roots. Each year they enlist other accomplished performers to create a dynamic chamber ensemble which presents concerts in Fairbanks, as well as outreach events in rural communities of interior Alaska. Participants in Composing in the Wilderness have the privilege not only to have their pieces premiered by Corvus, but also to develop a lasting working relationship with these musicians.
Here’s one of the pieces they premiered in 2021:
““And one can not say enough about the players of Corvus. With even less time than the composers had to write them, they had to master nine completely new pieces for their premieres. They played—and sang—exceptionally through the program. How fortunate the composers are to have such support in their performers. Bravo to all!””