White Birds, clarinet and fixed media (2014)

Elizabeth Anne Comninellis (b. 1986) is a composer, singer, and pianist. She recently completed her doctorate in music composition at the University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Yevgeniy Sharlat and Russell Pinkston. She holds a master's degree in music composition from the University of Colorado- Boulder, and a bachelor's degree in music composition, with emphasis in vocal and piano performance, from the University of Missouri- Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. She has studied with many acclaimed composers of modern art music, among them Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Paul Rudy, Carter Pan, and Dan Kellogg.

 

Dr. Comninellis is the composer-in-residence for The Boulder Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble premiered her work, As Lightning Flashes for symphony orchestra, in April 2017. She has also been commissioned by a number of new music initiatives, most recently The Beerthoven Concert Series in 2017 and Tetractys New Music in 2016, for which she wrote Lady Wisdom and Solomon.  Her piece White Birds, for clarinet and electronics, was presented at the 2015 New York Electroacoustic Music Festival. Her percussion trio, Bringing in the Boat, was chosen for the Women Composers of Hartford's 2015 international score call. She was awarded the Edward J. Levy Graduate Composition Prize for her chamber work, Flight. In addition, she was a recipient of the Kent Kennan Fellowship for music composition at the University of Texas.

 

Elizabeth is primarily a writer of large chamber works, many of which have theatrical and narrative components. She regularly seeks out collaborative projects with other artists, especially in the fields of theater and dance. Many of her ideas are drawn from literature, visual art, film, dance, and from her devoted Christian faith. Most recently she undertook a collaboration with pianist and juggler, Mathilde LeGrand to compose several pieces that combine the two skills. These collaborations were featured by Quest Track Radio in Normandy, France in June 2017. In addition, Elizabeth regularly writes for film and documentary, especially films by Joshua Comninellis.

 

Dr. Comninellis is also active as a performer and teacher. She currently holds a studio in voice and piano at The Orpheus Academy of Music in Austin, TX. She also enjoys writing works for children and regularly composes pieces for her students to perform.

White Birds, clarinet and fixed media (2014)

Elizabeth Anne Comninellis, composer