In 2021, five chamber music ensembles from around the country announced the creation of a new consortium aimed at increasing diversity in modern chamber music repertoire. Atlanta Chamber Players (Atlanta), Decoda (New York), Musiqa (Houston), Picosa (Chicago) and SOLI Chamber Ensemble (San Antonio) are proud to announce that Kyle Rivera has been awarded its 2022 Black, Latinx and Indigenous Emerging Composer Commission.

Kyle Rivera is a composer and MM student at the Yale School of Music. He earned a BM in Music Composition from the University of Houston. His principal for composition teachers were Katie Balch, Rob Smith, and David Ludwig. Kyle was a recipient of the Druckman Prize as a fellow at the 2022 Aspen Music Festival. He has collaborated with the Houston Symphony, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Musiqa, Fifth House Ensemble, KINETIC Ensemble, the AURA Contemporary Ensemble, Houston Grand OperaCo, Opus Illuminate, 10th Wave Chamber Music Collective, the Chelsea Music Festival, and Bent Frequency.

Mr. Rivera will create a new work for clarinet, violin, cello and piano to be performed by each of the five Consortium members during their 2023/2024 seasons, and will receive a $5000 cash award and the combined artistic and administrative support of five chamber music ensembles committed to providing an outlet for new voices in modern music.

The Cross-Country Chamber Consortium is made up of ensembles from around the country who are committed to the cultivation and performance of works by up-and-coming creators in the chamber music field. The 2021 Black, Latinx and Indigenous Emerging Composer Commission competition was judged by a panel of representatives from the artistic leadership of these ensembles, joined by guest judge Xavier Beteta. Applications for the next round of the Black, Latinx and Indigenous Emerging Composer Commission will be accepted in the fall of 2022 at this website link. Support for this commission comes from the member organizations and their generous donors. Additional support is provided by Scott and Judy Nyquist.