Composer Jonathan Bailey Holland photographed by Robert Torres
There are well-known masterpieces in Classical music we all know and love. But every year, musicians and composers create new music that breaks boundaries. Here are 11 composers you may have heard of, or may be brand new! They represent every corner of classical music from film, jazz, choirs, concert bands and orchestras, string quartets and clarinet solos. You may have never heard of them, but after listening to the playlist, you may just come away with a new favorite artist.
Eric Schwabel
Michael Abels photographed by Eric Schwabel
Michael Abels, composer: Abels composed the film scores for “Get Out” and “Us,’ which won multiple international awards. But the versatile composer’s other works have been performed and premiered by the Chicago and Atlanta symphonies, the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras, the Kronos Quartet, and university groups across the country. Abels blends classical music with jazz, bluegrass, and even hip-hop. He’s the co-founder of the Composers Diversity Collective, which aims to increase visibility of composers of color in film, game, and television music.