Laura Kaminsky
Encyclopedia
Laura Kaminsky is an American music promoter, music educator and composer. She was born in New York City
and studied with Joseph Wood
at Oberlin College
and Mario Davidovsky
at City College of New York. She graduated from City College with a Master of Arts degree in composition in 1980.
After completing her studies, Kaminsky worked as a performer and composer. Her music has been performed internationally. She founded and has been artistic director of the Musicians Accord ensemble since 1984, and has also served as artistic director of other programs and foundations.
From 1992-93 Kaminsky lived and worked in Ghana
, and from 1996-97 was director of the European Mozart Academy in Poland
. From 1999-2004 she served as chair of the music department at the Cornish College of the Arts
in Seattle, and from 2004-08 was dean of the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College State University
of New York. She continues to teach at Purchase College.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and studied with Joseph Wood
Joseph Wood
Joseph Wood was an American planter and soldier from Liberty County, Georgia. He served as a delegate from Georgia to the Continental Congress in 1777 and 1778.Wood was born in Pennsylvania, but moved to Georgia sometime in the 1760s...
at Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
and Mario Davidovsky
Mario Davidovsky
Mario Davidovsky is an Argentine-American composer. Born in Argentina, he emigrated in 1960 to the US, where he lives today...
at City College of New York. She graduated from City College with a Master of Arts degree in composition in 1980.
After completing her studies, Kaminsky worked as a performer and composer. Her music has been performed internationally. She founded and has been artistic director of the Musicians Accord ensemble since 1984, and has also served as artistic director of other programs and foundations.
From 1992-93 Kaminsky lived and worked in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, and from 1996-97 was director of the European Mozart Academy in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. From 1999-2004 she served as chair of the music department at the Cornish College of the Arts
Cornish College of the Arts
-Library:The library at Cornish College specializes in art, dance, design, music, performance production, and theatre. As of 2011 it holds 4700 CDs, 40,000 books, has 2,200 videos, and subscribes to 154 periodicals...
in Seattle, and from 2004-08 was dean of the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College State University
State University of New York at Purchase
Purchase College, State University of New York, is a public four-year college located in Purchase, New York, United States. It is one of 13 comprehensive colleges in the State University of New York system...
of New York. She continues to teach at Purchase College.
Honors and awards
- Two fellowships from the Millay Colony for the Arts (1984, 1986)
- Six fellowships from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (1985, 1989–92, 1999)
- Centrum Artist Residency Fellowship in Port Townsend, Washington (2004)
- Grants from the Artist Trust, King County, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Seattle Arts Commission, the Serage Foundation, USIA, and annual grants from Meet the Composer since 1983
Works
Kaminsky has a large catalog of works, and composes mostly chamber and vocal music. Selected works include:- Fantasy Suite
- Sonnet Lines, song cycle
- Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly (Text: William Shakespeare)