American Composers Orchestra Announces EarShot Readings Commission Winner

Composer Elijah Daniel Smith has won the commission, which will see him write a new work for the American Composers Orchestra

The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) was founded in 1977 and supports the creation, celebration, diversity, performance, and promotion of orchestral music by American composers. Part of the ACO, the annual EarShot Readings in New York City, has served over 350 composers starting their professional careers for over 20 years. 

The Readings are one of the most coveted opportunities for emerging composers in the U.S., and many of its alumni have gone on to win major composition awards, including the Pulitzer, GRAMMY, Grawemeyer, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Among the seven selected composers from over 200 applicants, Elijah Daniel Smith has won the 2022 EarShot Readings Commission with his piece “Wraith Weight.” The work explored “the idea of sonic afterimages by blurring and distorting pitch centers, rhythmic centers, and varying levels of harmonic clarity,” Smith explained.

ELIJAH DANIEL SMITH | WRAITH WEIGHT | AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA | GEORGE MANAHAN | 2022

The other six 2022 ACO EarShot Readings participating composers included Tommy Dougherty, Adeliia Faizullina, Patrick Holcomb, Will Stackpole, Yuting Tan, and Yuqin “Strucky” Yi. ACO’s readings of their works conducted by George Manahan can be viewed here.

This year’s mentor composers were Jessie Montgomery, Jonathan Bailey Holland, and ACO artistic director Derek Bermel. Each Readings composer received rehearsals, a digital recording of their work, and attended professional development sessions. 

“Smith has the rare gift of distinction and clarity in his compositional voice that leaves you inspired and wanting to hear more,” said Montgomery in the press release.

Smith’s works have been performed by ensembles including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mivos Quartet, Sō Percussion, Sandbox Percussion, Contemporaneous, ~Nois, Ensemble Linea, Ecce Ensemble, Fuse Quartet, Earspace, and the Peabody Symphony Orchestra. 

A graduate of the Boston Conservatory and the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, he is currently pursuing his PhD in Music Composition at Princeton University. 

“I’m elated to be working with the fantastic folks at ACO, and to be working with top tier musicians to really dig into some lesser-explored orchestral possibilities,” Smith expressed. “I’m very interested in translating ideas and techniques from other art forms into musical concepts, and I’m hoping to explore some of those that lie at a crossroads between experimental poetry and visual arts.”

“Elijah first caught my attention when he collaborated with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in November of 2021, before I joined the ACO team,” added ACO Director of Artist Equity, Garrett McQueen. “The music that Elijah creates is a perfect example of what I believe our organization is looking for as we continue to explore and platform the rich diversity of sound and experiences that help all of us at ACO continue the work of codifying a uniquely American orchestral ecosystem.”

A discussion between McQueen and Smith can be viewed below.