Composers Valerie Coleman and Nina C. Young Join The Juilliard School Faculty

Both composers will commence teaching at the opening of the 2024/25 academic year

The Juilliard School has appointed two new faculty members to its composition department. Composers Valerie Coleman and Nina C. Young will begin their work at the school at the opening of the 2024/25 academic year, following an extensive open search.

One of the most-performed living composers in the world, Valerie Coleman has received commissions from institutions such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, Atlanta Symphony, Library of Congress, and Metropolitan Opera/Lincoln Center Theater.

A GRAMMY-nominated artist, she is also the recipient of Performance Today’s 2020 Classical Woman of the Year, Orchestra of St. Luke’s 2022 Gift of Music, and Herb Alpert Awards’ Ragdale Prize. Coleman is also the creator, founder, and former flutist of Imani Winds.

Nina C. Young comes to Juilliard from a position at USC's Thornton School of Music. The winner of the 2015 Rome Prize at the American Academy in Rome, Young received a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship, a Koussevitzky Commission, the Aaron Copland Bogliasco Fellowship in Music, a Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship, a Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Salvatore Martirano Memorial Award, Aspen Music Festival’s Jacob Druckman Prize, and honors from BMI, IAWM, and ASCAP/SEAMUS.

Her work has been performed by the American Composers Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Aizuri Quartet, JACK Quartet, Matt Haimovitz, and wild Up

"We look forward to welcoming these remarkable composers and gifted teachers to Juilliard," said Melinda Wagner, chair of the composition department. "Valerie Coleman and Nina C. Young will undoubtedly bring to our students their unique artistry, expertise, and abiding devotion to excellent mentorship."

"The composition department is the creative core of Juilliard’s music division, and Valerie Coleman and Nina C. Young will be invaluable mentors for our composition students," said David Ludwig, the dean and director of the Music Division.

"Both composers represent our belief in a technique shaped by innovation, artistry, and openness. We welcome them to our learning community at Juilliard and are excited for both to have a lasting impact on creative work at the school."