A common definition of a starburst – ‘the rapid formation of large numbers of new stars in a galaxy at a rate high enough to alter the structure of the galaxy significantly’ – lends itself almost literally to the nature of the performing ensemble who premiered the work, the Sphinx Virtuosi, and I wrote the piece with their dynamic in mind. “Exploding gestures are juxtaposed with gentle fleeting melodies in an attempt to create a multidimensional soundscape. “This brief one-movement work for string orchestra is a play on imagery of rapidly changing musical colors,” Montgomery writes of Starburst. In 2019, the New York Philharmonic selected Montgomery as one of the featured composers for its Project 19, which marks the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting American women the right to vote. Jessie was named 2023 Composer of the Year by Musical America, and she says she feels a responsibility to use her platform to support her peers and to model creative freedom for the next. She was a two-time laureate of the annual Sphinx Competition and was awarded a generous MPower grant to assist in the development of her 2016 debut album, Strum: Music for Strings (Azica). She currently serves as composer-in-residence for the Sphinx Virtuosi, the Organization’s flagship professional touring ensemble. Since 1999, Montgomery has been affiliated with The Sphinx Organization, which supports young African-American and Latinx string players. Montgomery’s works are performed frequently around the world by leading musicians and ensembles. The resulting music has earned Montgomery rave reviews for her “vibrantly inventive original works for strings” () and numerous awards, including the ASCAP Foundation’s Leonard Bernstein Award. Jessie Montgomery’s music combines classical language with elements of vernacular music, improvisation, language, and social justice. Instrumentation: string orchestra (originally for string quartet) World premiere: September 2012 by the Sphinx Virtuosi at the New World Center in Miami, FL Jessie Montgomery, Musical Americas 2023 Composer of the Year, is a GRAMMY-nominated, acclaimed composer, violinist, and educator whose music interweaves classical music with elements of vernacular music, improvisation, poetry, and social consciousness, making her an acute interpreter of twenty-first century American sound and experience. Work composed: 2012, for the Sphinx Virtuosi Composer: born December 8, 1981, New York City
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