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Augusta Read Thomas

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description Augusta Read Thomas Overview

Augusta Read Thomas is an American composer whose catalogue includes orchestral, chamber, vocal, and instrumental music. Her writing is associated with vivid orchestral color, rhythmic energy, and carefully shaped melodic material, although her works use a range of techniques and ensembles. She served as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's composer-in-residence from 1997 to 2006 and has also written music for major orchestras, chamber groups, and solo performers.

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Who is Augusta Read Thomas?

Augusta Read Thomas is an American composer born in 1964 in Glen Cove, New York. She is a University Professor of Composition at the University of Chicago and writes orchestral, chamber, vocal, solo, opera, and dance music. [University of Chicago](https://music.uchicago.edu/directory/augusta-read-thomas)

What did Augusta Read Thomas do with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra?

She was the orchestra's Mead Composer-in-Residence from 1997 through 2006, working during the tenures of Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez. The residency included nine commissioned orchestral works and helped establish the MusicNOW series. [Augusta Read Thomas](https://augustareadthomas.com/about/)

What is Astral Canticle?

Astral Canticle is a double concerto for solo flute, solo violin, and orchestra by Augusta Read Thomas. Its Chicago Symphony Orchestra premiere concluded her residency, and the work was one of two finalists for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Music. [University of Chicago](https://music.uchicago.edu/directory/augusta-read-thomas)

What is Sun Dance by Augusta Read Thomas?

Sun Dance is a 2020 orchestral work dedicated to the memory of composer Oliver Knussen. Its world premiere was given by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under Christian Reif on February 17, 2023, and the piece lasts about 6 minutes. [Augusta Read Thomas](https://augustareadthomas.com/composition/sundance.html)