Steven Christopher Sacco
Composer - Performer -
Educator
The American composer
Steven Sacco was born in Brooklyn, New York. His work is performed
internationally by some of today’s leading soloists and ensembles. Critics
praise him for writing “absorbing, poetic and passionate music that easily
engages the sympathies and attention of a concert audience.”
International tours have seen his work performed in Australia, Asia, Europe and
North America. Some highlights include:
The United States Army
Band "Pershing's Own," commissioned the "Music in Three
Movements for Eight Trumpets" for their mission to the 2010 International
Trumpet Guild. in Sydney, Australia. The ensemble gave premieres of the
work in both Washington D.C. and Sydney.
Czech Nonet, Europe's
oldest and longest continuing performing chamber group, premiered his
Divertimento on their 2009 American West Coast tour. This piece was only
the second American work commissioned by Nonet, the first being from the
Pulitzer prize winning composer, Robert Ward.
The American Brass
Quintet premiered Sacco's Quintet for brass at the 2004 Aspen Music
Festival. The piece is his most performed work, with ensembles from
around the globe touring the work each season. The Quintet is featured on
ABQ's album, "Jewels...a selection of concert favorites," recorded on
Summit Records by multiple Grammy Award-winning producer Judith Sherman.
In addition, Sacco's
Fantasy for unaccompanied cello was commissioned by the Arts and Letters
Foundation for the great British cellist, Steven Isserlis. Isserlis
performed the EU premiere at the Deal Summer Music Festival in 2001. He
subsequently recorded the piece for the soundtrack to the award-winning film,
"The Enduring Call" which had its premiere at the Houston WorldFest
and had its EU premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival.
Soprano Juliana Gondek
gave the premiere of his "Three Songs on Poems by Emily Dickinson" at
the 1996 Yaddo summer gala benefit in the music room of the Yaddo mansion with
pianist Donald St. Pierre.
Speculum Musicae
premiered Sacco's Cello Concerto with cellist Eric Bartlett as soloist in 1995
on a Fritz Reiner Center concert at the Kathryn Bache Miller Theatre.
His "Three Songs
on poems of Emily Dickinson" for mezzo soprano and vibraphone was
premiered at the Tanglewood Music Festival in 1983.
While a student at
Juilliard, Sacco performed one of the 8 Schauspieler roles in the
Luciano Berio "Laborintus II" with the Electric Phoenix at the New
York Philharmonic Horizons ‘86 festival, under the direction of the
composer.
In 2002, Sacco was
elected to the Board of Governors of the American Composers Alliance (ACA) and
served as board secretary from 2003-2005.
Academic awards include
grants from The Arts and Letters Foundation, The Alice M. Ditson Fund of
Columbia University, The Corporation of Yaddo, The MacDowell Colony Inc., The
Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Geraldine R.
Dodge Foundation, and others.
A composition and
theory faculty member and past department co-chair at the Mannes College of
Music in New York City, Sacco also teaches at Midland School in New Jersey and
has taught at Rutgers University, Newark and at the State University of New
York (SUNY) at Purchase.
Steven Sacco's music is
published by ACA and Hickman Music Editions. He holds a doctorate from
Columbia University, a M.F.A. from Princeton University, and bachelor’s degree
from the Juilliard School. He resides with his wife and two children in New
Jersey.
2008
Review
Quotes...
"Highly mature work....thoroughly captivating"
International Trumpet Guild Journal
"With
its lyrical melodies, tonal and colorful harmonies, and serious introspection
punctuated by wit, whimsy and sparkle, Sacco's work should become a repertory
favorite".
-American Record Guide 2007, review
of American Brass Quintet CD, Jewels.
"Resolutely
euphonious"...
- Aspen Times 2007, review of the
premiere of Sonata for Bass Trombone and Piano, performed by John Rojak and An
Perry at the Aspen Music festival
"Delightful...[a]
kind of musical aperitif that whets the appetite for what was to come".
-The Buffalo News 2007, review of
Little Suite of Miniatures.
"Attractive
and engaging...Sacco’s music highlighted refreshing tonal language and organic
motivic writing".
-International Trumpet Guild (2004)
"Perky,
jazzy...highly listenable music"
-Aspen Times 2004, review of the
premiere of Quintet for brass, American Brass Quintet at the Aspen Music
Festival.
"Powerful
work, combining lyricism and drama"...
-Kent Mercury, UK 2001, review of
the premiere of Fantasy for unaccompanied cello performed by Steven Isserlis at
the Deal Summer Music Festival, UK.
"Absorbing,
poetic and passionate"
-The Sandpiper 1996
