ARTSaha! » Iron Composer

IRON COMPOSER OMAHA
A quick draw composition contest
Thursday, September 4, 2008
7:30 PM: Competition and Concert
8:30 PM: Post-concert reception
Strauss Performing Arts Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Tickets: $10 (concert only); $15 (concert and reception)

JUDGES
James Arey, Composer/Director of KVNO
Bob Fischbach, Omaha World-Herald
David Gompper, Director of the Center for New Music at the University of Iowa

EMCEE
Rob McCartney, KETV

IRON COMPOSER FINALISTS
Hermes Camacho (Texas)
George Lam (North Carolina)
Elizabeth Lim (California)
Greg Simon (Colorado)
Joseph Trapanese (California)

Based on a concept by ANALOG arts ensemble, Iron Composer Omaha is a quick draw composition contest inspired by the Iron Chef television show. Five composers are given five hours to complete a piece based on a secret musical ingredient for a surprise instrumentation.

Funded by the Robert M. Spire endowment, Iron Composer Omaha debuted in 2007 as a competition for Nebraska composers between the ages of 18 and 26.

In 2008, the competition went national and was open to all U.S. residents. See the Iron Composer Omaha rules for more information.

Immediately after the performances, a panel of judges, led by the Omaha World Herald’s Bob Fishbach, will determine who is the Iron Composer. The concert will be emceed by KETV’s Rob McCartney. Stay for the reception afterward to toast the winner and finalists; all reception proceeds will go to support ARTSaha!

The reigning Iron Composer Omaha is Luke Furman.

THE FINALISTS

The winning entry in Iron Composer Omaha 2008, Hermes Camacho’s Impressions of Wallpaper:

More info coming soon

From a pool of 50 composers from across the country, 5 were selected to come to Omaha and compete in Iron Composer:

Hermes Camacho (Texas)
George Lam (North Carolina)
Elizabeth Lim (California)
Greg Simon (Colorado)
Joseph Trapanese (California)

Each finalist will be featured in a series of posts on the News page.

SECRET INGREDIENT SUGGESTIONS

Do you have any ideas about what the secret musical ingredient should be? Last year, it was the theme song to The Jetsons. It can be anything from a found object to a chord progression.

Just fill out the form below and send us your suggestions.

IRON COMPOSER 2007

The inaugural Iron Composer Omaha was only open to Nebraska composers between the ages of 18 - 26. The surprise instrumentation was wind quintet, and the secret ingredient was inspired by the Futurist theme of ARTSaha! 2007: