Carolyn Yarnell facts for kids

Carolyn Yarnell (born in 1961) is an American composer and visual artist. She creates both music and art. She is especially known for combining these two passions. Her works often show landscapes and light. Many of her pieces are inspired by the beautiful places in her home state of California. Carolyn Yarnell has won several important awards. These include the Rome Prize and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

About Carolyn Yarnell

Carolyn Yarnell grew up in California. Her childhood was spent near the Sierra Nevada mountains. She loved music and decided to study it. She went to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. There, she earned her first music degree in 1986. Later, she continued her studies at Yale University. She received her master's degree in 1989.

A few years later, parts of her first big orchestral piece, Symphony No. 1, were performed for the first time. This happened at the Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music. Carolyn Yarnell is also a member of a group called the Common Sense Composers Collective. This group helps new music get played and heard. They work with other music groups to perform modern pieces. The collective has also released several music CDs. These CDs feature new compositions by their members.

Her Music and Art

Carolyn Yarnell is famous for her unique way of mixing music with visual art. She often uses light and landscapes as her main ideas. Imagine listening to music that paints a picture of mountains or a sunset!

Some of her notable musical works include:

• The Same Sky: This piece uses piano, electronic sounds, and even video.
• Symphony No. 1: A large piece written for a full orchestra.
• Living Mountains: A special orchestral piece called a tone poem. It tells a story or describes something, like mountains, through music.
• Yosemite and the Range of Light: Another big orchestral work inspired by nature.
• She even wrote music for an old silent film from 1927. The film is called La Souriante Madame Beudet.

Where to Hear Her Music

You can find Carolyn Yarnell's music on several recordings. Her works have been featured on albums by the Common Sense Composers Collective. She also has an album dedicated just to her music, called Sonic Vision. These recordings help people around the world listen to her unique compositions.