The US-based Irish composer Ann Cleare has been awarded a prize at this year’s prestigious Darmstadt Festival.
The prize, the Staubach Honoraria 2014, was awarded out of some 130 submissions from 35 countries to Ann Cleare, along with two other composers from Russia and Great Britain. Each of the composers will receive a commission to compose a piece for the 47th International Summer Course for New Music Darmstadt in 2014 as part of the award.
The Staubach Honoraria for Composition is funded by The Harry and Alice Eiler Foundation, Inc. (USA), and was established to encourage young composers to participate in the summer course at Darmstadt. The competition is run every two years and is open to composers between the age of 18 to 35. The year’s award was selected by a jury of Martin Iddon, Hans Thomalla and Thomas Schäfer.
Originally from Co. Offaly, Ann Cleare is currently completing a PhD in Composition at Harvard University with Chaya Czernowin and Hans Tutschku. Her music has been performed throughout Europe and the US by range of performers, including Ensemble SurPlus, clarinettist Carol McGonnell, ELISION, and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. A selection of her works are published by Project Scott New York.
Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland 