Aleksandra Vrebalov facts for kids
Aleksandra Vrebalov (born September 22, 1970) is a talented Serbian-American composer. She creates music in New York City and Novi Sad, Serbia.
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About Aleksandra Vrebalov
Aleksandra Vrebalov was born in a country called Yugoslavia, which no longer exists. She moved to the United States in 1995 to study music and became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
She studied music composition at several universities. These include Novi Sad University, Belgrade University, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the Prague Academy of Music. She also earned a special degree called a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan.
Her Music and Performances
Aleksandra Vrebalov has written more than 100 pieces of music! Her works include concert music, operas (which are like musical plays), and music for modern dance and movies.
Many famous groups and performers have played her music. Some of these include the Kronos Quartet, Glimmerglass Opera, the English National Ballet, and the Belgrade Philharmonic.
She also loves to work with different art forms. She has been part of special programs where artists live and work together.
Between 2007 and 2011, Aleksandra led a music workshop called "Summer in Sombor" in Serbia. Young composers from Europe and the U.S. came together to create over 50 new pieces of music. She has also worked with Müzikhane (House of Music). This group helps young refugees from Syria and Iraq make music.
Aleksandra has received many awards for her music. These include the Charles Ives Fellowship and awards from groups like ASCAP and New Music USA.
Her Operas
Aleksandra has written several operas. Her opera Mileva was first performed in 2011 in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Her third opera, The Knock, tells the story of U.S. military wives waiting for news about their husbands during a war in 2005. It was first shown as a film in 2021 and then performed live in 2023.
Aleksandra is now a full-time professor. She teaches music composition at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad.
Recordings of Her Work
You can find more than twenty CDs that feature Aleksandra Vrebalov's music. These recordings are on various music labels like Nonesuch and Innova.
Important Musical Works
Aleksandra Vrebalov has written many important pieces for orchestras.
-
This Kiss for the Whole World' (2022): This piece was inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven's famous Ninth Symphony.Aleksandra Vrebalov
- Our Voices (2019): This unique piece uses a "surround orchestra" where musicians are placed all around the audience. It also includes a virtual reality part!
- Sea Ranch Songs (2019): This music was inspired by a place called Sea Ranch in California.
- Forgotten Anthems IV (2018): This is a special concerto for the accordion.
- Her ballet music, The Widow's Broom (2004), is based on a book by Chris Van Allsburg. It has been performed on Halloween!
Working with the Kronos Quartet
Aleksandra Vrebalov has a very special and long-lasting relationship with the Kronos Quartet, a famous string quartet. Since 1997, she has written 20 pieces for them!
Some of her works for the Kronos Quartet include:
- ...hold me, neighbor, in this storm...
- My Desert, My Rose
- iletrikés rímes
- Gold Came from Space (premiered in 2023 for the quartet's 50th anniversary)
- Missa Supratext (written for Kronos and the San Francisco Girls Chorus)
- Sea Ranch Songs (2017), which includes a film.
- Beyond Zero: 1914-1918, a collaboration with filmmaker Bill Morrison.
- Babylon, Our Own (2011), featuring clarinetist David Krakauer.
Inspiration and Style
Many of Aleksandra's works are inspired by her Serbian heritage. For example, her piece Antennae (2019/2021) features Serbian monks. This piece was inspired by old Byzantine art and icons.
She sometimes uses old sounds or styles in her music. This can include folk music, classical music, or even pre-recorded sounds like church bells or calls for prayer.
After visiting China in 2016, Aleksandra wrote two pieces for traditional Chinese instruments: Cosmic Love III and Light Codes. These were for the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra.
She also likes to experiment with "open-form" music. This means that parts of the music are left open for the performers to interpret using their own feelings and ideas. Lately, she has also been using visual art to help her think about and plan her musical pieces.
