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Jennifer Higdon

Composer Jennifer Higdon during rehearsal at the OK Mozart Festival in Oklahoma.

Composer Jennifer Higdon during rehearsal at the OK Mozart Festival in Oklahoma. Her music receives over 250 performances each year. OK Mozart Festival/OK Mozart Festival hide caption

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OK Mozart Festival/OK Mozart Festival

The Composer Interview

Jennifer Higdon won't apologize for writing accessible music

As one of the most-performed living composers, the Pulitzer winner insists that her music communicate to everyone — from farmers to children to the classical music intelligentsia.

The Composer Interview: Jennifer Higdon

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'Cold Mountain' Takes Civil War Odyssey To The Opera Stage

Isabel Leonard and Nathan Gunn star as Ada and Inman in the world premiere of Jennifer Higdon's Cold Mountain at the Santa Fe Opera. Ken Howard/Courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera hide caption

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Ken Howard/Courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera

Deceptive Cadence

'Cold Mountain' Takes Civil War Odyssey To The Opera Stage

The best-selling novel and star-studded movie gets the operatic treatment from Pulitzer-winning composer Jennifer Higdon with a world premiere in Santa Fe.

'Cold Mountain' Takes Civil War Odyssey To The Opera Stage

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Hilary Hahn, 'In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores'

In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores comes out Nov. 11. Michael Patrick O'Leary/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Michael Patrick O'Leary/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Hilary Hahn, 'In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores'

The resourceful young violinist asked for brand-new encores — and, boy, did she get them. Hear fascinating works by 27 contemporary composers, written especially for Hilary Hahn.

Hilary Hahn, 'In 27 Pieces'

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.
Symphonic Resolutions: What's On Your Classical Music Wish List?

Tell us your hopes for classical music in 2013. Lalito/iStockphoto.com hide caption

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Lalito/iStockphoto.com

Deceptive Cadence

Symphonic Resolutions: What's On Your Classical Music Wish List?

What can composers, performers and audiences do to help the music they love thrive? Join a discussion — with prominent musicians like Pulitzer Prize-winning composers Kevin Puts and Jennifer Higdon and conductor Marin Alsop — to help find solutions to classical music's many persistent problems.

Lara Downes' New Viewpoints On Old Variations

Lara Downes plays contemporary takes on Bach's iconic Goldberg Variations in NPR's studio 4A. Doriane Raiman/NPR hide caption

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Doriane Raiman/NPR

Deceptive Cadence

Lara Downes' New Viewpoints On Old Variations

The pianist performs contemporary takes on Bach's Goldberg Variations in the NPR studio

Lara Downes' New Viewpoints On Old Variations

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Best Musical Moment Of 2010: Jennifer Higdon's Unsung Heroes

Composer Jennifer Higdon got a big surprise last April. J. Henry Fair hide caption

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J. Henry Fair

Deceptive Cadence

Best Musical Moment Of 2010: Jennifer Higdon's Unsung Heroes

Earlier this year, Higdon's Violin Concerto earned her a Pulitzer Prize. It was a surprising event that gave the composer a chance to reflect on the many friends and colleagues who helped her over the years.

Violin Concerto: III. Fly Forward (Hilary Hahn, Royal Liverpool Orchestra)

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Robert Spano, Champion Of New Music

Since becoming music director of the Atlanta Symphony, Robert Spano has been an advocate of new music. Angela Morris hide caption

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Angela Morris

Music Interviews

Robert Spano, Champion Of New Music

This season, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra celebrates the 10th anniversary of its music director, Robert Spano, who has established a reputation as an advocate for new music.

Robert Spano, Champion Of New Music

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Dinner With The Dead: Jennifer Higdon's Date With Beethoven

Composer Jennifer Higdon wonders what Beethoven would think of cell phones and Thai food. J.D. Scott hide caption

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J.D. Scott

Deceptive Cadence

Dinner With The Dead: Jennifer Higdon's Date With Beethoven

The Pulitzer Prize-winning composer would like a few tips from Beethoven, like knowing how he struggled with turning rewrites and sketches into masterworks.

Hear an excerpt of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 -- Molto Vivace (John Eliot Gardiner conducts Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique)

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Hilary Hahn Plays Concertos Both Classic And Contemporary

We just can't get enough of Hilary Hahn this week. Peter Miller hide caption

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Peter Miller

Deceptive Cadence

Hilary Hahn Plays Concertos Both Classic And Contemporary

The violinist has been on the fast-track to stardom since she was a child. Her new album features a Pulitzer-winning concerto composed by her former teacher, Jennifer Higdon.

Hilary Hahn Plays Concertos Both Classic And Contemporary

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Jennifer Higdon Wins Music Pulitzer

Composer Jennifer Higdon's Violin Concerto is this year's Pultizer Prize winner for music. Candace DiCarlo hide caption

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Candace DiCarlo

Music News

Jennifer Higdon Wins Music Pulitzer

The Philadelphia-based composer wrote her winning Violin Concerto for soloist Hilary Hahn, who premiered the work with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Pulitzer officials described the concerto as "a deeply engaging piece that combines flowing lyricism with dazzling virtuosity." Hear an excerpt from the piece.

Higdon: Violin Concerto - "Fly Forward" (excerpt)

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Marin Alsop on Music

Jennifer Higdon And Me: A Musical Friendship

Marin Alsop says she can't remember the first time she met composer Jennifer Higdon, and both simply believe they've always known each other. Oddly, the two women have never had a conversation about gender in the classical-music world — that is, until now. Higdon's Violin Concerto is set to be performed by Hilary Hahn next month.

Jennifer Higdon And Me: A Musical Friendship

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