Progress on upcoming projects:

  1. a new piece been brewing since summer for Hamiruge Percussion Ensemble with my colleague Brett Dietz (for wood, metal and drum set)
  2. a duo for mezzo and bassoon (an under utilized instrumentation) inspired by the poetry of Rebecca Morgan Frank for Darrel Hale and Megan Ihnen,
  3. and some mysterious explorations into black holes (more info about that coming soon).
  4. In the meantime, I will leave you with this wonderful recording of my first ever performance at a pirate bar this past June as a part of Charlotte New Music Festival featuring the fantastic Beo String Quartet.

Some overdue spring updates include a review by Gramophone, an Associate Professor position at LSU starting this fall and first solo program of works.

Gramophone review here.

LSU School of Music is pleased to announce that Mara Gibson has accepted an offer to become Associate Professor of Composition, starting in Fall 2018.

Previously, Mara Gibson was Visiting Assistant Professor of Composition here at the School of Music, and currently leads the Constantinides New Music Ensemble, a unique chamber group engaging in new projects which adapt to multiple musical styles, and find new ways to connect in the community through non-traditional venues.

Faculty program with new and long standing colleagues.

Sky-born updates one month after release date

Thanks for listening!  Check out the online resources for my 2nd CD through Navona Records.  Purchase Sky-born through Amazon MP3, Amazon CD, iTunes, Spotify, Naxos Direct and Arkiv Music.

Recent reviews available through Sonagrama and Audiophile and airplay by WTJU of the University of Virginia, WCNY Classic FM, WMBR 88.1, WRUV FM Burlington, KALX Berkeley and many more.

Check out the inside story for the album here through PARMA.  

MacDowell seeds take shape

While in residence at the MacDowell Colony last August, I began two major projects that are coming to fruition this spring and summer.  Click on the links to learn more about these projects!

Secret Sky: a hundred veils to fall, world premiere performance commissioned by Baroque on Beaver Music Festival, August 6, 2017, conducted by Robert Nordling

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Piano Preludes for Holly Roadfeldt premiered March 2017 with several upcoming performances inspired by the paintings of Jim Condron

Saying goodbye to 2016

Despite the MANY challenges of 2016, there have been a lot of creative opportunities for me, for which I am grateful.

Blackbird premiered with the splendid Cascade Quartet, and then again with my dance and video collaborators Gary Abbott and Caitlin Horsmon, a culmination of the work I did at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts during the summer of 2015.

One Voice premiered and was recorded for my 2nd CD with long-time collaborator Michael Hall and new friend/collaborator Megan Ihnen who I reconnected with in Baltimore at New Music Gathering this past January (we met first in Vienna with Michael on an absolutely incredible evening at Saint Stephen’s Cathedral… seriously, Bach’s organ toccata was playing upon our entrance).  It was a sign indeed!

I recorded Folium – prime and cubed, as well as Spark.

Then I had the great honor and pleasure to attend the MacDowell Colony as a fellow.  Three weeks seemed small in retrospect, but I met so many incredible creative spirits during that precious time there (Toni Morrison, Tania Leon and Bill Jacobson to name a few — Bill took this pic which encapsulates so much for me at this time).

At MacDowell,  I started my Preludes project with pianist Holly Roadfedlt inspired by paintings by Jim Condron, as well as sketching my first orchestral commission for the Baroque on Beaver Music Festival led by Robert Nordling, which will premiere in August of 2017.  I signed on with PARMA for my second CD which will release in November of 2017.

Gushiness aside.  MacDowell made me soft, what can I say.  Thanks for the occasions 2016.  2017 will be new indeed. Starting off with more recordings and the premiere of Sky-born🙂