Background
Cummings was born in San Francisco, California, United States.
Cummings was born in San Francisco, California, United States.
He studied at Yale University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, and Columbia University, from which he received a doctorate.
His compositions include works for orchestra, as well as operatic and chamber works. He later conducted post-doctoral research at IRCAM in Paris under Pierre Boulez. He is a former professor at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Cummings lives in New York City, where he serves on the faculty of The Juilliard School, teaching composition in the Evening Division.
Four recordings of his music have been released on Cryptography Research Inc"s Emergency Music label. The Golden Gate, an opera in two acts with music by Conrad Cummings and libretto from the novel-in-verse by Vikram Seth, adapted by the composer, is currently (2010) in development by LivelyWorks and American Opera Projects and receives a staged workshop production at the Rose Studio at Lincoln Center in New York City in January 2010.
Bachelor of Arts, Yale University Master of Arts, State University of New York-Stony Brook.
Doctorate.M.A., Columbia University Composition studies with Bulent Arel, Mario Davidovsky, and Jacob Druckman. Postdoctoral research at IRCAM (Paris).
Vice president of Hyperspace Cowgirls, a children"s interactive media company, 1995-2002. Awards and fellowships: National Education Association, Opera America, Rockefeller Foundation, MacDowell Colony, and Djerassi Foundation.
Works performed by Brooklyn Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Columbus and Cleveland Chamber Orchestras, Canadian Brass.
Recordings on Cryptography Research Inc Emergency Music label. Operas: Eros and Psyche (libretto by the composer), Oberlin Opera Theater. Photo-Op (libretto by James Siena), Louisiana MaMa ETC, New York City, and UrbanArias, Washington District of Columbia
Tonkin (libretto by the composer with Tom Bird and Robert T Jones), Opera Delaware.
Positions 1956 (libretto by Michael Korie), Personal 122 and Le Poisson Rouge, New York City, Urban Arias, Washington District of Columbia The Golden Gate (libretto from the novel in verse by Vikram Seth, adapted by the composer), staged workshop, Rose Studio at Lincoln Center, Opera America New Works Forum Showcase, November 2012, named one of the best operas of the 21st century by Opera News.
Associate professor and director of Oberlin Conservatory"s music and media program, 1980-1992. Successful composer ( 19-Now )
Conrad Cummings has been mentioned in multiple different New York times articles reviwing his music that he composed. Four recordings of his music have been released on Cryptography Research Inc"s Emergency Music label.
The Golden Gate, an opera in two acts with music by Conrad Cummings and libretto from the novel-in-verse by Vikram Seth, adapted by the composer, is currently (2010) in development by LivelyWorks and American Opera Projects and receives a staged workshop production at the Rose Studio at Lincoln Center in New York City in January 2010.