Kati Agócs

Kati Ilona Agócs
Kati Ilona Agócs
	Agócs in December 2015
Background information
Born	January 20, 1975 (age 50)
Origin	Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Contemporary classical
Occupation	Composer
Website	www.katiagocs.com
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Kati Ilona Agócs (born January 20, 1975) is a Canadian-American composer and a member of the composition faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

Education

Agócs attended the Juilliard School in New York where she earned a Master's and Doctoral degrees under the guidance of Milton Babbitt.^[1] She was a composition fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Tanglewood Music Center, where she held the ASCAP Leonard Bernstein Composer Fellowship in 2007.^[2] She was a voice student of Adele Addison.^[3]

Career

From 2005 to 2006, she lived in Budapest and wrote on the new-music scene in Hungary for the journal The Musical Times.^[4] She had previously organized an exchange program between the Juilliard School and the Liszt Academy.^[5] The Hungarian-language weekly, Bécsi Napló (Vienna Journal) acknowledged her contribution to the visibility of Hungarian composers abroad.^[6] She served as Composer in Residence for the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 2010.^[7]

Agócs was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2013.^[8]^[9] In 2014 the American Academy of Arts and Letters named her as recipient of the Arts and Letters Award in Music.^[10] She maintains a work studio in Flatrock, Newfoundland, Canada.

Personal life

Agócs has one daughter, Olivia.^[11]

Music

Boston Modern Orchestra Project recorded and released the 2016 album The Debrecen Passion,^[12] named one of the top 10 Classical albums of 2016 by the Boston Globe.^[13] The title track of this album was nominated in 2017 by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for a Juno Award, Classical Composition of the Year.^[14]^[15]

In 2022, her Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra was also nominated for Classical Composition of the Year.^[16]

Agócs has written on American music for the journal Tempo^[17] and also created a critical edition of the Symphony in A Major by Leopold Damrosch.^[18]

Select principal works

Solo and chamber works up to seven instruments

Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra (Solo violin and six percussionists) 2018.^[19] Recorded performance by violinist Nicholas Kitchen and the New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble led by director Frank Epstein.^[20]
Crystallography (Soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion) 2012 (Text: Christian Bök)^[21]
Every Lover is a Warrior (Solo harp) 2005^[22]^[23]
Hymn (Saxophone quartet) 2005^[24]
Immutable Dreams (Flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano) 2006.^[25]
Imprimatur (String Quartet No. 2) 2018^[26]
Rapprochement (String Quartet No. 3) 2025^[27]
Voices of the Immaculate (Lyric mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano/celeste) 2021 (Text: assembled by the composer: fragments from Revelations and testimony from survivors of abuse by clergy)^[28]

Orchestra / large ensemble works

By the Streams of Babylon (Two amplified soprano voices and chamber orchestra) 2009 (Text: Psalm 137 in Latin)^[29]
The Debrecen Passion (Twelve female voices and chamber orchestra) 2015 (Text: poems by Szilárd Borbély in Hungarian; Lamentations of Mary in modern Hungarian translation by Ferenc Molnár [fragments]; Ana B’Choach [in Hebrew]; Stabat Mater Specioso [fragments, in Latin]; Thou Art a Vineyard [hymn text in Georgian])^[30]^[31]
Elysium (Chamber Orchestra and Recorded Sound)^[32]
Horn Concerto (Solo Horn and Chamber Orchestra) 2021^[33]^[34]
Hosanna of the Clouds (Solo Soprano, SATB Chorus, and Chamber Orchestra) 2025 (Text: Excerpts from Psalms 27 & 39 and Books of Luke, Isaiah, and Revelations in Latin; Prayer in Aramaic; Free verse in Latin and English)^[35]
Perpetual Summer (Large Orchestra with Amplified and Processed Solo String Sextet) 2010; rev. 2012^[36]
Requiem Fragments (Chamber Orchestra) 2008^[37]
Shenanigan (Orchestra) 2011^[38]

References

^ Robin, William (2016-01-13). "Making Milton Babbitt's Legacy Less Fearsome". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
^ "The ASCAP Foundation Leonard Bernstein Composer Fellowship at Tanglewood". Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^ Wassenberg, Anya (2024-07-09). "Banff International String Quartet Competition Updates: Jury, Competition, Canadian Commission". Ludwig van Toronto. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
^ Agócs, Kati (2006). "The mechanics of culture: new music in Hungary since 1990". The Musical Times. 1896 (246): 5–18. doi:10.2307/25434400. JSTOR 25434400.
^ Juilliard Journal, October 2005, Raymond J. Lustig, "Twin Concerts Foster a New York-Budapest Exchange of New Music"
^ "Hungarian Music Week in New York". Bécsi Napló. 1 (1). Zentralverband. March–April 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
^ Kevin Burns (7 February 2011). "Kati Agócs and Winnipeg's New Music Festival". Hungarian Presence in Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Kati Agócs". Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
^ "2013 Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition awarded to Kati Agócs". Canadian Music Centre. 15 April 2013.
^ "Music awards press release". American Academy of Arts and Letters. March 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
^ Balch, Katherine (2017-07-10). "Mentor, Me—Sustained Musical Mentorship - New Music USA". newmusicusa.org. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
^ Rosenberg, Donald (5 October 2017). "AGÓCS The Debrecen Passion". www.gramophone.co.uk.
^ "Top 10 classical albums". Boston Globe. 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
^ "Boston Modern Orchestra Project". Boston Modern Orchestra Project. 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^ "2017 Juno Nominees". Juno Award. 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
^ "Here's the full list of 2022 Juno nominees". CBC. March 4, 2022.
^ Agócs, Kati (2008-10-02). "Two recent concertos by George Tsontakis". Tempo. 62 (246): 11–21. doi:10.1017/S0040298208000247. S2CID 145205416. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
^ Agócs, Kati (2005). Recent Researches in American Music. A-R Editions. ISBN 9780895795823. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^ Steiman, Harvey (10 August 2019). "Review: Lugansky, Hadelich in majestic recitals at Aspen Music Festival and School". Aspen Times. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
^ "Kati Agócs: Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra". YouTube. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
^ "The new music festival 2014". vanclassicalmusic.com. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
^ "agócs-olympics". NEC Music. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
^ "Kati Agócs: "John Riley" from "Every Lover is a Warrior"". Canadian Music Centre. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^ "Hymn Kati Agócs". Canadian Music Centre. 18 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^ "Eighth Blackbird Soars in Modern Mode". Cleveland.com. March 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
^ Travers, Andrew (27 June 2018). "Jupiter String Quartet to open Aspen Music Festival season". The Aspen Times. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
^ "Competitors announced for 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition". The Strad. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
^ Woolfe, Zachary (10 December 2021). "Review: For Once, Singing of Complete and Utter Clarity". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
^ "Kati Agócs performance of By the Streams of Babylon". Canadian Music Centre. 1 February 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^ "Agócs Draws Hungarian Poetry for BMOP Premiere". Boston Globe. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
^ "A Tribute to Borbély, a Poet of Our Time". The Boston Music Intelligencer. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^ "Kati Agócs: Elysium". Canadian Music Centre. Retrieved 11 April 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Horlyk, Earl (11 November 2021). "Sioux City Symphony Orchestra to premiere new Concerto by award‑winning composer". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
^ "Review: Sioux City Symphony world premiere of Kati Agócs horn concerto". The Hub. League of American Orchestras. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
^ "Superior Palmistry". The Classical Scene. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
^ Tillotson, Kristin (16 January 2015). "Emerging composers take center stage at Minnesota Orchestra". Star Tribune. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
^ Guerrieri, Matthew (31 May 2010). "BMOP's feast of new music". Boston.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
^ Terauds, John (27 September 2012). "Bright colours, dull pianist in Toronto Symphony evening". Toronto Star. Retrieved 23 April 2019.

External links

[1] Robin, William (2016-01-13). "Making Milton Babbitt's Legacy Less Fearsome". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 February 2017.

[2] "The ASCAP Foundation Leonard Bernstein Composer Fellowship at Tanglewood". Retrieved 11 April 2015.

[3] Wassenberg, Anya (2024-07-09). "Banff International String Quartet Competition Updates: Jury, Competition, Canadian Commission". Ludwig van Toronto. Retrieved 2024-09-09.

[4] Agócs, Kati (2006). "The mechanics of culture: new music in Hungary since 1990". The Musical Times. 1896 (246): 5–18. doi:10.2307/25434400. JSTOR 25434400.

[5] Juilliard Journal, October 2005, Raymond J. Lustig, "Twin Concerts Foster a New York-Budapest Exchange of New Music"

[6] "Hungarian Music Week in New York". Bécsi Napló. 1 (1). Zentralverband. March–April 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2015.

[7] Kevin Burns (7 February 2011). "Kati Agócs and Winnipeg's New Music Festival". Hungarian Presence in Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}

[8] "Kati Agócs". Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.

[9] "2013 Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition awarded to Kati Agócs". Canadian Music Centre. 15 April 2013.

[10] "Music awards press release". American Academy of Arts and Letters. March 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.

[11] Balch, Katherine (2017-07-10). "Mentor, Me—Sustained Musical Mentorship - New Music USA". newmusicusa.org. Retrieved 2024-09-09.

[12] Rosenberg, Donald (5 October 2017). "AGÓCS The Debrecen Passion". www.gramophone.co.uk.

[13] "Top 10 classical albums". Boston Globe. 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.

[14] "Boston Modern Orchestra Project". Boston Modern Orchestra Project. 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

[15] "2017 Juno Nominees". Juno Award. 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.

[16] "Here's the full list of 2022 Juno nominees". CBC. March 4, 2022.

[17] Agócs, Kati (2008-10-02). "Two recent concertos by George Tsontakis". Tempo. 62 (246): 11–21. doi:10.1017/S0040298208000247. S2CID 145205416. Retrieved 2021-10-22.

[18] Agócs, Kati (2005). Recent Researches in American Music. A-R Editions. ISBN 9780895795823. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

[19] Steiman, Harvey (10 August 2019). "Review: Lugansky, Hadelich in majestic recitals at Aspen Music Festival and School". Aspen Times. Retrieved 12 February 2021.

[20] "Kati Agócs: Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra". YouTube. Retrieved 28 January 2023.

[21] "The new music festival 2014". vanclassicalmusic.com. Retrieved 25 March 2015.

[22] "agócs-olympics". NEC Music. Retrieved 25 March 2015.

[23] "Kati Agócs: "John Riley" from "Every Lover is a Warrior"". Canadian Music Centre. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

[24] "Hymn Kati Agócs". Canadian Music Centre. 18 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

[25] "Eighth Blackbird Soars in Modern Mode". Cleveland.com. March 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2025.

[26] Travers, Andrew (27 June 2018). "Jupiter String Quartet to open Aspen Music Festival season". The Aspen Times. Retrieved 24 April 2019.

[27] "Competitors announced for 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition". The Strad. Retrieved 9 May 2025.

[28] Woolfe, Zachary (10 December 2021). "Review: For Once, Singing of Complete and Utter Clarity". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

[29] "Kati Agócs performance of By the Streams of Babylon". Canadian Music Centre. 1 February 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

[30] "Agócs Draws Hungarian Poetry for BMOP Premiere". Boston Globe. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.

[31] "A Tribute to Borbély, a Poet of Our Time". The Boston Music Intelligencer. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

[32] "Kati Agócs: Elysium". Canadian Music Centre. Retrieved 11 April 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}

[33] Horlyk, Earl (11 November 2021). "Sioux City Symphony Orchestra to premiere new Concerto by award‑winning composer". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

[34] "Review: Sioux City Symphony world premiere of Kati Agócs horn concerto". The Hub. League of American Orchestras. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

[35] "Superior Palmistry". The Classical Scene. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.

[36] Tillotson, Kristin (16 January 2015). "Emerging composers take center stage at Minnesota Orchestra". Star Tribune. Retrieved 9 May 2025.

[37] Guerrieri, Matthew (31 May 2010). "BMOP's feast of new music". Boston.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.

[38] Terauds, John (27 September 2012). "Bright colours, dull pianist in Toronto Symphony evening". Toronto Star. Retrieved 23 April 2019.

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