Composer's Workshop | 2023

Feedback by Violet Barnum for Olivia's "Hurricane"

Violet Barnum

Violet Barnum (b. 2003) is a composer, pianist, and songwriter from New York City. Her pieces have been performed by Face the Music, by the New York-based contemporary music ensemble Contemporaneous, by musicians at the Curtis Institute, and by members of Imani Winds. She is a proud alumna of the inaugural year of Luna Composition Lab, as well as of the Curtis Young Artist Summer Program and the NYU Summer Songwriters Workshop. Violet is indebted to her composition mentors, who have included Reena Esmail, Alex Weiser, Kathryn Alexander, and Jack Frerer. Violet is currently a sophomore at Yale University, where she is majoring in music. She also enjoys choral singing, composing songs for musical theater, music-directing shows, and making Spotify playlists.

Feedback by Yuri Lee for Rose's "Wonderful Winter"

Yuri Lee

Yuri (b. 2004) is a Korean-Japanese composer and violinist based in NY with the dream of making people happy with music. She is a story-teller through the unique themes and extramusical ideas of her compositions that animate the listener's imagination. She studies composition with Manuel Sosa at Juilliard Pre-College and aspires to become a film composer. Previously, she studied with Daniel Felsenfeld and Lucie Gelinas at Juilliard Music Advancement Program and Reena Esmail at Luna Composition Lab. Her compositions have been awarded by National YoungArts, ASCAP, NYO-USA, the American Prize, National Young Composers Challenge, Tribeca New Music, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, and NYSSMA. She founded “Music Around Us Project,” where she organizes concerts and interactive presentations for senior citizens and young children to bring joy to the community. In her spare time, she enjoys chess, puzzles, movies, books, soccer, and crafts.

Feedback by Desiree Robinson for Leonardo's "My Volkswagon Van"

Desiree Robinson

Desiree Robinson is a composer and songwriter from Lafayette, LA, USA with a bachelor's degree in music composition, with concentration in clarinet from Loyola University New Orleans. Under the tutelage of Dr. William P. Horne and Dr. James Walsh at Loyola, she has written pieces and songs for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, gospel choir, trios, duets, solos, and spoken word. She was named the 2018 Loyola Composition Competition Winner, where she was able to premiere a piece for symphony orchestra, and the 2018 and 2017 Loyola Composition Student of the Year. At Loyola, she not only studied composition and clarinet, but strengthened her songwriting skills, managed a student music label, lead different organizations in several capacities, performed with many ensembles, assisted a band director, coordinated recitals, events, and performances, and worked as an usher for events and performances. She has experience writing Hindustani Indian Classical music and Western Classical crossover music and music for contemporary ballet. Her music is heavily inspired by her Christian faith, the love of God, and her growth as a person through life experiences. One of her goals as a musician is to build on the crossovers between Gospel and classical music, and contemporary worship and Classical music. She also plans to write works for wind ensemble and SATB choir.

Feedback by Jem Talaroc for Kylie's "Snowmen Rock"

Jem Talaroc

Jem Talaroc (b. 1991) acquired his degree in Composition a?nd Arranging at Silliman University College of Performing and Visual Arts in Dumaguete City, wherein his works have received numerous performances by groups such as Ating Pamana Inc., Silliman University Men's Glee Club, and the Silliman University Campus Choristers (SUCC). He was a delegate of the 2010 Elements Music Camp. In 2010 he was commissioned by the Silliman Cultural Affairs Committee (CAC) to write the contest piece for the first Himig at Sayaw Choral Competition. In 2011 he orchestrated and conducted Stephen Schwartz's musical Godspell which has received successful performances at the Luce Auditorium. As a performer, he sang with the Silliman University Gratitude and Goodwill Ambassadors (SUGGA) in a concert tour in Fairbanks, Alaska, and has conducted several performances of student works while teaching at the university.

Feedback by Jason Dyba for Genavieve's "A Cool Winter Night"

Jason Dyba

Jason Dyba is a writer and producer. His clients have included John Maxwell, Panda Express, The Home Depot, the American Heart Association, and the Global Leadership Summit. Jason has directed pieces with Matthew McConaughey and Malcolm Gladwell; he’s composed music for GRAMMY-winning artists Chris Tomlin and Gaither Vocal Band; and he speaks regularly on creativity. Jason and his family reside in Atlanta, GA.

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