Alyssa Weinberg

Composer

Alyssa Weinberg, born in 1988, is a composer renowned for her ability to convey profound emotions through her music.

Alyssa Weinberg Bio

Alyssa Weinberg's creative genius thrives on challenging perceptions and experimenting with musical form. She delights in subverting expectations, creating surreal scenarios that often find their home in dreamy, multidisciplinary productions.

In recognition of her exceptional talent, Weinberg received a 2022 Opera America Discovery Grant, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. This grant fuels the development of DRIFT, a groundbreaking opera collaboration with librettist J. Mae Barizo. Their previous collaboration, ISOLA, a prismatic monodrama exploring themes of time, mental health, and isolation, showcased their innovative prowess.

Weinberg's compositions have graced prestigious stages worldwide, performed by celebrated artists and ensembles including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Eighth Blackbird, So Percussion, yMusic, and the Aizuri Quartet. She has garnered commissions and accolades from esteemed organizations like Chamber Music America, FringeArts, the Pennsylvania Ballet, Paris Dance Project, the Barnes Foundation, and the Curtis Institute of Music. Recently, Weinberg enjoyed a Copland House Residency Award, further enhancing her artistic journey during her June 2023 residency.

Beyond her role as a composer, Weinberg is a dedicated educator. She imparts her wisdom at the Peabody Institute at JHU, Mannes School of Music, and Juilliard Pre-college. Her teaching experience extends to Princeton University, Butler School of Music at UT Austin, Montclair State University, and the New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers program. Notably, Weinberg founded the Composers Institute at the Lake George Music Festival, a vibrant summer program now in its fifth season, emphasizing mentorship, community, and the craft of composition.

Alyssa Weinberg's academic journey includes a PhD in composition from Princeton University, complemented by degrees from Vanderbilt University, Manhattan School of Music, and the Curtis Institute of Music.

ISOLA: A Transformative Opera

Weinberg's innovation shines in ISOLA, an opera that delves into the depths of identity and challenges our perceptions of time. Crafted in collaboration with visionary poet J. Mae Barizo, ISOLA promises a transformative journey of healing.

The name ISOLA carries multiple meanings, from isolation to an island and even the Pacific Ocean archipelago. It's a reflection of the themes explored in this enchanting piece, where distorted perceptions, both inner and outer, are woven into a poetic, non-linear series of vignettes.

Alyssa Weinberg's distinctive sonic palettes and texture infuse the emotions of ISOLA into an operatic masterpiece. Her music is a playground of perception, bending form to create surreal and dreamlike scenarios. Critics have celebrated her work as "quite literally stunning" (Chicago Tribune), a testament to her unique talent.

Directed by George R. Miller, the world premiere production of ISOLA promises a multi-sensory marvel. Singers, chamber musicians, a dancer body double, and surround-sound electronics will immerse the audience in the central character's psyche and subconscious. The stage will be set at Compound, a dynamic gallery space in Long Beach, enveloping the audience in a dreamy, surreal atmosphere.

Prepare to be captivated by this extraordinary and thought-provoking performance by Alyssa Weinberg, a composer who continues to push the boundaries of music and perception.