“A few months ago, composer Kurt Erickson returned to the university that sent him out into the world. The Fresno State Art Song Festival — held in February this year as a digital event, thanks to the pandemic, but normally a robust in-person event organized by Fresno State music professor Maria Briggs — welcomed Erickson as its guest composer. It was a full circle, in a sense, considering how much time he’d spent in the music department as a student pursuing his craft.”
Read More“The poetry of Here, Bullet, written by Iraq war veteran Brian Turner, is by turns, sharp and violent, limpid and sensual. Erickson’s settings are simply gorgeous; the recording of the Los Angeles premiere, moved this reviewer to tears”
Read MoreAn Interview and live performance with the American Guild of Organists
Read More“one composer finds increased opportunities and collaboration through an unusual approach to commissioning new works.”
Read More“The purpose of this document is to supply a comprehensive performer’s guide to American composer Kurt Erickson’s Here, Bullet, a song cycle consisting of four songs for baritone and piano set to the poetry of American poet Brian Turner. Additionally, an overview of its unique consortium-based commissioning process will be included in examination of the entrepreneurial nature of its creation.”
Read MoreThe unique nature of this new commissioning consortium template has caught the attention of media outlets in the form of feature articles in a variety of formats including “Classical Singer Magazine,” “San Francisco Classical Voice” and “Journal of Singing.”
Read More“Composer Kurt Erickson has won First Prize in the National Association of Teachers of Singing 2020 Art Song Composition Award for his composition "Here, Bullet (Song Set for Baritone and Piano)" based on poems written by Brian Turner during his time serving in the Iraq War.”
Read More“Erickson’s winning work will be performed at the 56th NATS National Conference, June 26-30, 2020, in Knoxville, TN along with the 2019 winning work “Elemental Earth” by Philip Lasser. “Here, Bullet” will also be programmed on a future concert by the Cincinnati Song Initiative as part of its Americana series.”
Read More“Here, Bullet” is a direct-to-the-heart poem penned by 52-year-old Brian Turner while serving as an infantry team leader in Iraq. Now, 49-year-old composer Kurt Erickson has set the poem for baritone and pianist, and is pursuing innovative, divergent pathways to bring words and music to the ears and hearts of listeners worldwide.
Read More“As a working composer, I have a sense for what I feel is fair compensation, given my experience as a professional composer, but I also balance this with what is fair to the given organization.”
Read More“Even Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra members who have been with the organization for many years may find it surprising that their January gala concerts in Hertz Hall will mark BCCO's 50th anniversary — a half a century of free concerts!”
Read More“Kurt Erickson was 4 years old when his family got a fairly good indication of the path his life would take: A life devoted to music, in which his most recent accomplishment is being named composer-in-residence for San Francisco’s Lieder Alive!”
Read More“Male singers share how they balance work, family, and personal lives - including if, how, and when they decided to marry and have children”
Read More“A few months ago, composer Kurt Erickson returned to the university that sent him out into the world. The Fresno State Art Song Festival — held in February this year as a digital event, thanks to the pandemic, but normally a robust in-person event organized by Fresno State music professor Maria Briggs — welcomed Erickson as its guest composer. It was a full circle, in a sense, considering how much time he’d spent in the music department as a student pursuing his craft.”
Read MoreA three part interview with Minnesota Public Radio
Read More“This composer, a 38-year-old Fresno native, is the same age poet Carl Sandburg was when he wrote and published the “Chicago Poems,” which Erickson used as the inspiration for his “Chicago Songs.” The commissioned work will get its world premiere when the Sacramento Philharmonic performs a program of music from the Americas on Nov. 1”
Read More“Spirits ran high at Orchestra Hall last weekend. It was the finale of the weeklong Composer Institute, and before an audience of about 1,000 people, Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra played works by nine young composers from around the country.”
Read More
