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March 15, 2025

Collegiate composers to debut original works at Winterthur in National Competition Finals


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The event will be hosted by Winterthur in Wilmington March 23.

The event will be hosted by Winterthur in Wilmington March 23.

Six collegiate composers will take center stage at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library on Sunday, March 23, as they compete in the final round of the inaugural Ruth Wales Du Pont Collegiate Composition Competition.

The event, hosted in partnership with Winterthur and The American Pops Orchestra (APO), will feature original classical and popular compositions performed live by a professional orchestra.

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The six finalists, selected from hundreds of national submissions, will each debut their work, inspired by a unique artifact from Winterthur’s renowned collection.

The compositions will be performed in front of an audience at Winterthur’s Copeland Hall in Wilmington, Delaware, with attendees able to participate either in person or via livestream.

The finalists represent a diverse array of talented young composers, showcasing both popular and classical music.

The chosen competitors are:

Popular Composers
– Tomás Jonsonn, Peabody Institute
– Oliviana Marie, University of Southern California
– Liz Townsend, University of North Texas

Classical Composers
– Lily Gallihue, University of Maryland
– Josíah Garza, Peabody Institute
– Robbie Strauss, University of Delaware

Each finalist will compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to have their work performed in front of a live audience.

The Ruth Wales Du Pont Collegiate Composition Competition offers a platform for emerging composers to showcase their talent, while celebrating the connection between music and the rich history of Winterthur’s collections.

The American Pops Orchestra, founded in 2015 by Music Director Luke Frazier, is known for blending popular and classical genres in innovative ways. The orchestra aims to build community through music, engaging diverse audiences both in person and virtually.

In 2023, APO was named an official Arts Envoy of the U.S. State Department, further solidifying its mission to make high-quality art accessible to all.

The event is sure to be an exciting culmination of the competition, offering a glimpse into the future of classical and popular music.


Source: delawarelive.com…