New Haven, CT June 17, 2010: New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) Music Alive Composer-in-Residence and internationally recognized contemporary composer, Augusta Read Thomas makes her third return engagement to Connecticut for the NHSO’s Connecticut Young Composers’ Project.

The NHSO Connecticut Young Composers’ Project gives six aspiring high school aged composers the opportunity to work intensively with a modern day composer. This two year course consists of twelve after school tutorials led by Ms. Thomas. Already in its second year, the Connecticut Young Composers will have their compositions performed by the New Haven Symphony Contemporary Music Group in May 2011.

Ms. Thomas’s work with the young composers continues on June 21 and 22 at the Yale University School of Music from 1:00-4:00pm. During these sessions, Ms. Thomas and students will be joined by an NHSO musician who will be on hand to perform the student’s self-composed pieces and contribute to the conversation regarding the development each work. During the Tuesday session, Yale University Composition Professor Chris Theofanidis will share his compositional expertise with Ms. Thomas and students.

The NHSO will feature Ms. Thomas’s work throughout its upcoming 2010-11 Symphony Series season, most notable when the orchestra presents the world premiere of Augusta Read Thomas’s Radiant Circles.

The Residency of Augusta Read Thomas is made possible through Music Alive, a residency program of the League of American Orchestras and Meet the Composer. This national program is designed to provide orchestras with resources and tools to support their presentation of new music to the public and build support for new music within their institutions. Funding for Music Alive is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and The ASCAP Foundation Joseph & Rosalie Meyer Fund.

For more information on the NHSO’s upcoming 2010-11 season visit www.newhavensymphony.org.