composers in residence
FELIX JARRAR
With music described as “dreamlike” by the Boston Globe, NYC-based Felix Jarrar is a composer and pianist whose “music flows from him in the most natural and lively way.” (Tom Cipullo). His works are praised as “experimental and beautifully composed” (Broadway World) with “lush and memorable melodies” (Operawire). He’s performed at venues such as Symphony Space, (le) poisson rouge, Feinstein's/54 below, the BAM! Fisher Hillman Studio, Roulette Intermedium, and Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall. His works are performed internationally by artists from the Metropolitan Opera, the Atlantic Music Festival Orchestra, the duo Unassisted Fold, and Spark Duo.
Amongst his approximately 220 works, he’s written over 194 art songs, 12 operas, 2 string quartets, 2 cantatas, and an oratorio. Jarrar is the assistant music director for BARN OPERA in Vermont, pianist/coach for their summer program Castellopera al Mare in Italy, and a vocal coach at Mannes School of Music. He completed his Bachelor of Arts at Marlboro College and his Master’s of Music degree at Brooklyn College. Jarrar's right-hand collaborator is librettist/lyricist/stage director Bea Goodwin. This season, he debuts his ensemble The Jarrar and Brea Duo with award-winning Venezuelan soprano Maria Brea.
Headshot photography by Eliana Brea.
jean kim
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Pianist, educator and choral conductor Jean Sophie Kim has performed as a concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber player throughout the world She has performed at the Alcazar Palace in Seville, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Fine Arts Building in Chicago, and the Banff Centre in Canada, among others.
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She holds degrees from the University of Western Ontario and the Manhattan School of Music and is finishing her doctorate from the University of Cincinnati. Her piano teachers include James Tocco, Constance Keene and Sonja Behrens. Her chamber coaches have included Lawrence Lesser, Sylvia Rosenberg and Isidore Cohen of the Beaux Arts Trio. In 2013, she studied conducting with Simon Carrington at his summer workshop. She has worked with singers from The Metropolitan Opera Guild and the Juilliard Opera Center. Ms. Kim has also performed as a summer resident singer and pianist at the Montparnasse Piano Bar in Mykonos, Greece.
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She has performed as a chamber pianist in Europe and throughout Canada and the United States. Her piano trio, Trio Dionysus made their New York Recital Debut at Carnegie Recital Hall with American composer Ned Rorem in attendance to hear his work. Last summer she performed in a contemporary music workshop for Eighth Blackbird and Frederic Rzewski. As a soloist she was invited to play at the Seoul National Arts Center with the Seoul Symphony Orchestra in South Korea. In addition to her dedication to music, Jean is studying music that accompanies silent films.
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