THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY’S MERRIMAN-ROSS FAMILY YOUNG COMPOSERS WORKSHOP EXPLORES ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME

THROUGHOUT THE WORKSHOP, NINE YOUNG COMPOSERS WILL CREATE INNOVATIVE ELECTROACOUSTIC COMPOSITIONS

ANNOUNCING LOCAL COMPOSER MARCIN PĄCZKOWSKI AS THE 2023/2024 WORKSHOP DIRECTOR

Seattle, WA — The Seattle Symphony is excited to announce the start of the 2023/2024 Merriman-Ross Family Young Composers Workshop, with a first-time focus on electroacoustic composition. From January to May, nine talented students from the Puget Sound region will explore this innovative genre, guided by the expertise of 2023/2024 Workshop Director Marcin Pączkowski, an acclaimed composer and electronic music specialist.

This season’s workshop is unlike any before as students will master the art of blending electronic sounds with live symphony instruments while utilizing the advanced technology of Benaroya Hall’s Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center. This experience will not only refine their compositional skills in merging electronic and acoustic elements but also broaden their artistic perspectives. The Seattle Symphony looks forward to including students with interest in a broader variety of musical genres, exploring beyond the classical realm and fostering a multitude of creative approaches and ideas.

“I am looking forward to directing the Seattle Symphony’s Young Composers Workshop this season, and including a stronger emphasis on electroacoustic music than ever before,” said 2023/2024 Merriman-Ross Family Young Composers Workshop Director Marcin Pączkowski. “During the workshop, students will become explorers of sound and embrace a new sonic universe through their music — let’s open up our compositions to all sounds!”

“The 2023/2024 Young Composers Workshop will push students to redefine the boundaries of where music can venture, fusing electronic and symphonic instruments together using the incredible technology found in Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center,” said Seattle Symphony Senior Director of Education & Community Engagement Jérémy Jolley. “Under the guidance of Marcin Pączkowski, one of the finest in the field, and working in collaboration with Seattle Symphony musicians, our young composers will take full advantage of Octave 9, using the space as an incubator of expression and art.”

After months of preparation and workshopping their scores, the young composers’ works will be brought to life in two final concerts performed by Seattle Symphony musicians in Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center in Benaroya Hall. The concerts, open to the public and free of charge, take place on June 2 at 6pm and 7:30pm.  Reservations are recommended; walk-ups are also welcome.

THE MERRIMAN-ROSS FAMILY YOUNG COMPOSERS WORKSHOP

The Merriman-Ross Family Young Composers Workshop has a long history involving many prestigious names in music composition, providing local students the opportunity to connect with exceptional expertise in this field. The program began in 1992 under the direction of Rebecca & Jack Benaroya Conductor Laureate Gerard Schwarz, who was the Harriet Overton Stimson Music Director of the Seattle Symphony from 1985 to 2011, and former Composer in Residence Bright Sheng. It was originally named in honor of David Diamond, recognized as one of America’s greatest composers and the Symphony’s longtime Honorary Composer in Residence. This Education and Community Engagement program represents a rare opportunity for young composers to push the boundaries of traditional composition and to explore new musical landscapes. The Seattle Symphony is proud to support the next generation of composers as they embark on this journey of musical discovery and innovation. Watch the recently released Young Composers Workshop Documentary, filmed during the 2022/2023 workshop, on Seattle Symphony+. 

MARCIN PĄCZKOWSKI | WORKSHOP DIRECTOR

Marcin Pączkowski [pawnch-`koavz-kee] is a composer, conductor, digital artist and performer, working with both traditional and electronic media. As a composer, he is focused on developing new ways of creating and performing computer music and his pieces involving real-time gestural control using accelerometers have been performed in the United States, Poland, Canada and South Korea. As the Music Director of Evergreen Community Orchestra, he presents concerts of diverse repertoire to local communities. He is also involved in performing new music and has led premieres of numerous works in Poland and the United States.

He has received grants and commissions from the Seattle Symphony, eScience Institute, Adam Mickiewicz Institute and Polish Institute of Music and Dance. He received his Ph.D. in Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS) from the University of Washington and holds Master's degrees from the Academy of Music in Kraków, Poland, and from the University of Washington.

SEATTLE SYMPHONY  

The Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has won five Grammy Awards, 27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 750,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts, and through the Seattle Symphony+ streaming service, the orchestra’s concerts reach audiences at home and around the world.

BENAROYA HALL 

Benaroya Hall, the home of the Seattle Symphony, is located in downtown Seattle and surrounded by numerous restaurants, retail stores and parking facilities. Opened in 1998, Benaroya Hall is the most-visited performing arts venue in Seattle. It has received numerous awards, including a 2001 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Honor Award for outstanding architecture. Benaroya Hall has three versatile performance venues, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall and Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, all renowned for their pristine acoustics, luxurious design and prime location. For additional information, including rental information, event listings and public tour schedules, please visit benaroyahall.org.

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The Merriman-Ross Family Young Composers Workshop is generously underwritten by Pamela Merriman, Sonja Ross, and Kelley Ross.

Additional support for The Merriman-Ross Family Young Composers Workshop is provided by Patricia M. Davis, Ann Holbrook, and Michel and Christine Suignard.

The Seattle Symphony’s Family, School & Community programs are supported by 4Culture, the Arakawa Foundation, Marco Argenti, ArtsFund, Delta Air Lines, Merriman-Ross Family, the National Endowment for the Arts, and individual contributions to the Seattle Symphony Annual Fund.