Biography (Short)

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The son of visual artists, Robert Paterson’s music is inspired by nature, visual art, machines and American icons, and he was recently described in Fanfare magazine as “a very important composer working in the scene today in America.” Paterson has received performances in the United States and internationally by many outstanding ensembles, including the Louisville Orchestra, Russian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, New York New Music Ensemble, Da Capo Chamber Players, California EAR Unit and Ensemble Aleph. Paterson is the 2011 Composer of the Year, an award given by the Classical Recording Foundation at Carnegie Hall this November. Other awards include the Copland Award, Brian Israel Prize, and winning the Louisville Orchestra Composition Competition. He has received grants and awards from the American Composers Forum, ASCAP and the American Music Center and fellowships to the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, Aspen Music Festival and Atlantic Center for the Arts. He received degrees from Cornell University (DMA), Indiana University (MM) and the Eastman School of Music (BM). From 2009-12, Paterson is Music Alive Composer in Residence with the Vermont Youth Orchestra, sponsored by Meet the Composer and the League of American Orchestras. Current projects include an opera with librettist David Cote, a new commission for the Vermont Symphony and Jaime Laredo and two choral works for the Chamber Choir of Europe. Paterson is the founder and Artistic Director of the American Modern Ensemble and resides in New York City with his wife Victoria and their son Dylan.

[July, 2011]