Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project
Encyclopedia
Founded in 2001, the Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project (NACAP) is an outreach program of the Grand Canyon Music Festival that is dedicated to teaching Native American
young people to compose concert music
. Each year, young musicians work with a Native American composer
and a string quartet
in residence
in partnership with their school's music program. For the 2011 season, the Sphinx Organization's
Catalyst Quartet participated as NACAP's fist Fellowship Ensemble
.
In 2007 New York's WNYC
aired a feature about the project on its program Soundcheck
, narrated by Ralph Farris
of the string quartet ETHEL
.
NACAP is a winner of Arizona Governor's Arts Award for Arts in Education and in 2011 was presented with a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award by First Lady Michelle Obama
.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
young people to compose concert music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. Each year, young musicians work with a Native American composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
in residence
Artist in residence
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities allow visiting artists to stay and work so that they may apply singular focus to their art practice....
in partnership with their school's music program. For the 2011 season, the Sphinx Organization's
Sphinx Organization
The Sphinx Organization is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of young Black and Latino classical musicians. Based in Detroit, Michigan, it was founded by the American violinist Aaron Dworkin...
Catalyst Quartet participated as NACAP's fist Fellowship Ensemble
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
.
In 2007 New York's WNYC
WNYC
WNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
aired a feature about the project on its program Soundcheck
Soundcheck
A soundcheck is the preparation that takes place before a concert, speech, or similar performance, when the performer and the sound crew run through a small portion of the upcoming show on the venue's sound system to make sure that the sound in the venue's "Front Of House" and stage monitor sound...
, narrated by Ralph Farris
Ralph Farris
Ralph Farris is an American violist, violinist, composer, arranger, producer and conductor. He specializes in new music and is a founding member of the string quartet ETHEL....
of the string quartet ETHEL
Ethel (string quartet)
ETHEL is a New York based string quartet that was co-founded in 1998 by Ralph Farris, viola; Dorothy Lawson, cello; Todd Reynolds, violin; and Mary Rowell, violin. Unlike most string quartets, ETHEL plays with amplification and integrates improvisation into its performances...
.
NACAP is a winner of Arizona Governor's Arts Award for Arts in Education and in 2011 was presented with a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award by First Lady Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
.
Composers-in-residence
- 2001–2002 - Brent Michael DavidsBrent Michael DavidsBrent Michael Davids is an American composer and flautist. He is a member of the Stockbridge Mohican nation of American Indians. He has composed for Zeitgeist, the Kronos Quartet, Joffrey Ballet, the National Symphony Orchestra, and Chanticleer.He holds a B.M...
(Mohican) - 2003 - David Mallamud
- 2003 - Jerod Impichchaachaaha' TateJerod Impichchaachaaha' TateJerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate is a Chickasaw classical composer and pianist. He is one of a handful of American Indian classical composers, and his compositions are based on American Indian history and culture....
(Chickasaw) - 2004–2010 - Raven ChaconRaven ChaconRaven Chacon is an American composer and artist. He is known as a composer of chamber music as well as a solo performer of experimental noise music...
(Navajo) - 2006 - Adam Overton
String Quartets-in-residence
- 2001 - Miró QuartetMiró QuartetThe Miró Quartet is an internationally performing professional classical string quartet based in Austin, Texas. The group is the Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Texas and its members are on the faculty of the Butler School of Music...
- 2002 - Corigliano QuartetCorigliano QuartetThe Corigliano Quartet is a classical music string quartet founded in 1996 with the blessing of the Pulitzer-, Grammy-, and Oscar-winning John Corigliano. "They are truly one of the great quartets of the new generation," said the composer...
- 2003 - Avalon Quartet
- 2004 - Calder Quartet
- 2005–2011 - ETHELEthel (string quartet)ETHEL is a New York based string quartet that was co-founded in 1998 by Ralph Farris, viola; Dorothy Lawson, cello; Todd Reynolds, violin; and Mary Rowell, violin. Unlike most string quartets, ETHEL plays with amplification and integrates improvisation into its performances...