Exploring Ideas In Music: Composer Ana Sokolović Talks About Composition And Her Concerto For Orchestra

“On November 16 and 17, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra will be performing Ana Sokolović’s Concerto for Orchestra. It’s the first time she’ll be working with the TSO and conductor Gustavo Gimeno.

We spoke to the composer about her start in music, and the work that Maestro Gimeno and the TSO will be performing.

Composer Ana Sokolović

Ana Sokolović was born in Belgrade, Serbia. She has made Montréal her base since 1992.

Her formal musical education began with ballet lessons at the age of four. She went on to study composition at the university level in Belgrade. Ana followed that with a master’s degree with José Evangelista at l’Université de Montreal, and her reputation quickly began to grow in that city.

Her growing body of works includes operas, solo and chamber music, and orchestral pieces. She often draws on the rhythmic folk music of her Balkan heritage for inspiration, along with a range of compositional and artistic techniques. Her work is performed across Canada, the US, and throughout Europe, and she is the fourth most frequently performed woman opera composer in the world.

She has also worked on music for stage, including collaborations with legendary choreographer Louise Lecavalier, director Denis Marleau, playwright Stéphanie Jasmin, and Oscar-nominated director Theodore Ushev.

Ana’s work has collected numerous accolades over the years, including two consecutive JUNOs for Classical Composition of the Year. She served as Composer-in-Residence at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) for three seasons. Ana teaches composition at l’Université de Montréal, where she was awarded the first Canada Research Chair in Opera Creation in 2022…”

Complete Interview: www.ludwig-van.com