Ms. León who hails from Havana, Cuba, is highly regarded as a composer, conductor, educator, and advisor to arts organizations.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome Tania León as our 2021 Distinguished Composer-in-Residence," stated Charles Mason, Chair, Department of Theory and Composition. "She follows a long line of Distinguished Composers-in-Residence at Frost who are the most highly regarded composers and teachers of composition of our time. This opportunity for our students to study with a composer of her stature distinguishes the Frost School as one of the few in the nation to provide enriched opportunities beyond the already great experiences working with its composition faculty."
León’s residency will give Frost performance students the rare opportunity to receive extensive, in-depth coaching. During her residency, she will be providing two hours of lessons to each graduate student in the school’s masters and doctoral programs in composition and one hour of lessons to each junior and senior composition major during the spring semester. During the fall semester of 2021, Ms. Leon will be rehearsing Ensemble Ibis and other ensembles who will be performing her works."
Tania León Leon stated: "I’m very moved to be joining the Frost School as their 2021 Distinguished Composer-in-Residence and look forward to working with the diverse representation of students and faculty. Miami has special meaning for me as it was my first stop when I arrived in the United States. This is truly a dream come true!"
Tania León’s recent commissions include works for New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, NDR Symphony Orchestra, Grossman Ensemble, International Contemporary Ensemble, and pianist Ursula Oppens with Cassatt String Quartet. Appearances as guest conductor include the Philharmonic Orchestra of Marseille, Gewandhausorchester, Orquesta Sinfonica de Guanajuato, and Orquesta Sinfónica de Cuba.
Upcoming premieres feature commissions for the NewMusic USA Amplifying Voices Program, the League of American Orchestras in honor of Jesse Rosen, The Musical Fund Society in Philadelphia to celebrate their 200th anniversary, and for The Crossing chamber choir with Claire Chase, flutist, among others.
A founding member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, León instituted the Brooklyn Philharmonic Community Concert Series, co-founded the American Composers Orchestra’s Sonidos de las Américas Festivals, was New Music Advisor to the New York Philharmonic, and is the founder and Artistic Director of the nonprofit and festival Composers Now.
Her honors include the New York Governor’s Lifetime Achievement, awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the ASCAP Victor Herbert Award, among others. She also received a proclamation for Composers Now by New York City Mayor, and the MadWoman Festival Award in Music (Spain).
León has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Colgate University, Oberlin, and SUNY Purchase College, and served as U.S. Artistic Ambassador of American Culture in Madrid, Spain. A CUNY Professor Emerita, she was awarded a 2018 United States Artists Fellowship.
