Buffalo Composer Finalist in CINTAS Foundation Composer Fellowship for 2018-2019  in Miami Miami, August 2018 – The CINTAS Foundation announces this year’s finalists for the annual CINTAS Fellowship Competition and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. A reception and awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 10th, at the University of Miami’s Lowe Art Museum. An exhibition featuring works by each of the finalists will be on exhibit at the Lowe Art Museum beginning on Wednesday, October 3rd. Buffalo Composer Sabrina Peña Young is among the finalists for this year's Cintas composer fellowship. If she wins, Young hopes to use the funds to produce her upcoming children's opera Alica and the White Rabbit , a futuristic opera loosely inspired by the work of Lewis Carroll and a precursor to her animated opera Libertaria. The CINTAS Foundation oversees two important art collections in the United States. The Master Paintings from the Span...

DEC 28th Big Words I Know By Heart - Special Guest Composer and Filmmaker Sabrina Pena Young Author, composer & TED talker Sabrina Pena Young (Libertaria: The Virtual Opera) joins us in the studio. Lovable scamp and compulsive commenter Terry Kimmel circles back to the Co Host Hot Seat for some fresh insults. DEC 28th 6:45-8:30pm EST Click on this Link to Find out More about Big Words I Know By Heart

DEC 28th Big Words I Know By Heart - Special Guest Composer and Filmmaker Sabrina Pena Young Author, composer & TED talker Sabrina Pena Young (Libertaria: The Virtual Opera) joins us in the studio. Lovable scamp and compulsive commenter Terry Kimmel circles back to the Co Host Hot Seat for some fresh insults. DEC 28th 6:45-8:30pm EST Click on this Link to Find out More about Big Words I Know By Heart

Animation and Opera - Why Low Budget Composers choose Machinima Animation With the global depression, art budget cuts, and innovations in technology, contemporary composers have embraced new ways of presenting opera using digital media in the last twenty years. Digital art projects like The Creator’s Project ( http://www.thecreatorsproject.com/ ) encourage and promote modern projects like virtual operas, digital art, gaming‐inspired art, and multimedia design projects. From the Chicago Opera Cabal ensemble to William Antoniou’s Turing Opera and Alice Shield’s Apocalypse , composers have combined the theatrical spectacle of opera with the unlimited innovation of technology. Choosing to create an animated opera over a traditional live opera has several advantages, including working with a diverse range of artists worldwide, low production cost, unlimited stage possibilities, and easy distribution. An animated opera allows the composer to collaborate w...

Recording Insights from Libertaria the Virtual Opera When producing a large‐scale music project through the Internet communication, flexibility, and organization are key components for success. Any composer wishing to collaborate with dozens of musicians and artist through the Internet needs to wear multiple hats, including director, manager, tech support, and coach. Needless to say, jumping between roles involves a keen sensitivity to each musician’s needs, especially considering the cold nature of Internet communication. The Libertaria cast worked on the recordings for the opera for over eighteen months. After downloading the Libertaria Cast Rehearsal Albums from Bandcamp.com, the cast members recorded their vocals using the included scores and click tracks. Without set live rehearsals for this all‐volunteer project, the composer, cast, and crew had to work with a very flexible schedule that allowed for work obligations, touring, family emergencies, and cast changes ...

How Bandcamp Helped Me Create and Opera  Organizing a cast virtually has distinct challenges. Libertaria: The Virtual Opera has a core cast of ten talented vocalists with incredibly diverse backgrounds. Talented opera singers Kate Sikora and Gracia Gillund share the lead role of Libertaria, with Gretchen Suarez‐Pena taking on the difficult antagonist Lucinde. Eclectic artist Matthew Meadows and electronic music guru Perry Cook lend two distinct styles for the male lead of Simeon, an addict who ages in reverse. Talented singers Jennifer Hermansky, Lucas Matias Mora, and others round out the international cast. None of these cast members have met for a rehearsal. How to organize an opera cast through cyberspace? Similar collaborative projects like the Deep Listening Telematic Circle have used Google+, Internet 2, and Skype for live concerts and rehearsals. Because Libertaria is animated with the voices dubbed in during post‐production, live rehearsa...

Like this video?  Then you will love Composer Boot Camp 101:  50 Exercises for Students, Educators, and Music Professionals!

Image via Wikipedia Partially because of the economy and partially because of the changing times, opera companies (professional ensembles of instrumentalists, vocalists, set designers, etc. who solely produce operas) have had a difficult time surviving financially. Because of this, there are a few opera companies that have started some innovative programming. If you do not have opportunities to see an opera or other large scale vocal work in person at the local theater or university, I suggest checking out The Met: Live in HD . The Metropolitan Opera , the foremost opera company in the United States , taped various performances in HD and have toured the films at various local movie theaters. Imagine not only seeing and experiencing an opera, but also enjoying it in Dolby Surround Sound! You can find out about the upcoming season here: http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events_next.aspx The upcoming season includes: Wagner's Das Reingol...

I just wanted to share that my new sci-fi novel  Libertaria: Revelation  is now available at Amazon in a new  Libertaria Chronicles   expanded edition that includes Book 1 Libertaria: Genesis, Book 2 Libertaria: Revelation, a free electronica album download and exclusive author interview.  Get the Libertaria Chronicles for the Nerd You Love this Christmas  You can order this new two-book expanded paperback edition just in time for the holidays! So very excited to share! If you like sci-fi, dystopia, telekinetic female characters, Blade Runner , Mockingjay, Divergent, 1984, or anything Ray Bradbury , then you need to check out the Libertaria Chronicles.  Get the new expanded Libertaria Chronicles edition here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/ 1540409775/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?s= books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481919131& sr=1-3-fkmr0&keywords= libertaria+revelation+sabrina+ pena+young In this special two book expanded edition of the science...

Libertaria: The Virtual Opera is up for Best Animation and Best Short Features awards at the upcoming Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival! I am planning to be there for the showing on November 11th @3:15PM in Buffalo, New York . Very exciting! hope to see you there!  COMPLETE SCHEDULE:  http://www.buffalodreamsfantasticfilmfestival.com/2016-program/schedule/  http://www.buffalodreamsfantasticfilmfestival.com/2016-program/schedule/ FILM SCHEDULE FRIDAY, NOV. 11TH AT SCREENING ROOM CINEMA CAFÉ  Friday, Nov. 11th – Sun Nov. 13th Screening Room Located in the Northtown Plaza, 3131 Sheridan Drive BUFFALO, NEW YORK ACTION, ANIMATION & SCI-FI 3:15 pm     Block 35:     Animation & Music Videos The best animated shorts and music videos from around the world, including the locally produced animated SF opera short feature Libertaria. Mayur ( Singapore , animated music vide...

THE CUTTY STRANGE RADIO BROADCAST at Wave Farm October 6th, 2016 1AM broadcast The Cutty Strange unveils a new and fresh format, starting November 2015. Programs will be made up of pieces by musicians, storytellers, poets, sound artists , and others. These commissioned works aim to bring new light to the broadcast art medium .  This week they will be feating Libertaria: The VIrtual Opera in the podcast "The Opera Heard Round the World: The Internet and 21st Century Composer Collaboration" https://wavefarm.org/wgxc/schedule/smxhhw Related articles Broadcast Info: Panthers at Broncos Containing our 'electromagnetic pollution': MXene can protect mobile devices from electromagnetic interference BBC Radio 1 investigated after airing sweary version of Flume song Epic Music Monday: Two Steps From Hell - Strength of an Empire Jay Electronica Causes Chaos At Made In America Festival P2P Foundation receives the Prix Ars Electronica 2016 Award Sigur Rós...

Libertaria: The Virtual Opera and the experimental futuristic film Singularity will both be screened this Saturday May 7th at the NCCC Video Festival in Niagara, NY . I will be attending and hope to see you there if you are in the area! The NCCC Video Festival runs from 12:00 - 4:00 pm. NCCC is located at 3111 Saunders Settlement Rd., Sanborn, NY 14132. More Information: http://www.niagaracc.suny.edu/ncccvideofestival/ NCCC VIDEO FESTIVAL  SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2016 The NCCC Digital Media Department is proud to host our very own 2016 Video Festival--open to all ages and all levels of expertise! Finalists will be notified May 1st. The Screenings and Award Ceremony will take place on May 7th at Niagara County Community College , 3111 Saunders Settlement Rd, Sanborn, NY 14132. Support local art, share your best works and join in on the fun—hope to see you there!  $200 cash for 1st Prize winners in each category: documentary, comedy, drama, music video ,...