News
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I Never Saw Another Butterfly — new recording released with mezzo-soprano Janna Baty and bassoonist Frank Morelli
I Never Saw Another Butterfly was my first Holocaust-themed song cycle. The work sets six poems by children who were killed in the Holocaust and the cycle progresses from feelings of innocence and hope to those of despair and sorrow. Composed in 1996 and scored for solo voice with alto saxophone, I later created additional versions
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Music of Remembrance to reprise VEDEM
Vedem, my Holocaust-themed oratorio with librettist David Mason, tells the story of the boys of Terezin and their secret magazine, written between 1942-1944. The work was commissioned by Music of Remembrance and the group premiered it in May of 2010, with Naxos releasing the CD a year later. A repeat performance was held in November
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THE THREE FEATHERS — new cast possibilities
In January 2026, I created a new version of The Three Feathers — my fairy tale opera with Dana Gioia — to allow for more flexible casting. The new versions allow for “The King of the Upper World” (baritone) to be sung as “The Queen of the Upper World” (mezzo-soprano). Please see my opera catalog for
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We Go On, Oswego: A Theatrical Song Cycle in dedication to the women of the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter
Dr. Katie Hannigan, in collaboration with Finger Lakes Opera, is presenting a theatrical song cycle entitled “We Go On, Oswego”. Katie conceived of this project to tell the story of several Jewish refugee women housed at the Emergency Refugee Camp in Fort Ontario, NY during WWII. This camp was the only refugee camp in the
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Vanderbilt University Visit
I will be in residence at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN from November 10-12, 2025, coaching students and giving a master class and talk on my music.
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Jane Manning’s Vocal Repertoire for the Twenty-First Century, Volume 2
Jane Manning was described as the “life and soul of British contemporary music” — and her book about 21st century vocal repertoire examines a variety of songs. One chapter is devoted to my Men with Small Heads cycle, to Thomas Lux’s poetry. I am grateful for her insights into my music. “IT is an unalloyed pleasure
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Yale Alumni Magazine interview
brin solomon (Yale ’14) interviewed me for the September/October 2025 issue of The Yale Alumni Magazine — for the “Where Are They Now” column.
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Pomona College Residency
I will be in residence at Pomona College between October 21-25, 2025, and am so honored that the faculty and students will be presenting a concert of my music to celebrate my recent 70th birthday! https://www.pomona.edu/events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D190702908
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Music of Remembrance to reprise Vedem on January 26, 2026
Music of Remembrance commissioned Vedem and premiered the work in May of 2010. I am delighted that The Northwest Boychoir will once again join forces with Mina Miller and Music of Remembrance to reprise Vedem. Click for information about the original production.
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The Making of Maya and the Magic Ring
Andrew Newbegin made a series of videos for Lyric Opera of Kansas City about the creation of Maya and the Magic Ring, my children’s opera with Dana Gioia that was commissioned by LOKC — links are below. Plot and Characters Guide The Compositional Process The Importance of New Operas Making Magic Together
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Mentor for Lyric Opera of Kansas City/No Divide KC’s Come as You Are Fellowship program
I am delighted to serve as a mentor for the composers for No Divide KC‘s Come as You Are (CAYA) Fellowship program, founded by Stacy Busch and Neal Long. Three composer/librettist pairs will write and workshop micro-operas created for children and their families. This year’s composers are Ian Y. Chung, Rodrigo Camargo and Ashi Day
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Manhattan School of Music Precollege Opera Workshop to present Scene 1 of The Three Feathers
The Manhattan School of Music Precollege Opera Workshop will be presenting Scene 1 of The Three Feathers in their 2025 Staged Scenes Program, under the direction of David Gordon. The concert will be in Ades Hall at the Manhattan School of Music on May 10, 2025 at 2:30 pm. Admission is free of charge and
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Maya video excerpts now on YouTube
“I’m The King of the Cats” Aria — with Alex Smith as the Cat and Bethany Jelinek as Maya — and “Nobody Trusts a Genie” — with Luke Harnish as the Genie Maya alone — discovering the ring — with Bethany Jelinek as Maya What Grandmothers Know — the opening aria for Grandmother — with Virginia Reed as
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Laura Strickling’s 40@40 Anthology
The first volume of Laura Strickling’s 40@40 Anthology has just been published by NewMusicShelf. A few years ago, Laura, a champion of American art song, commissioned 40 new works for her 40th birthday. One of those works is my Thanks a Latte, to Caitlin Vincent’s wonderfully humorous poem. Laura recorded the first 20 songs on
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Yale School of Music Alumni News Profile
I am honored to be featured in the Yale School of Music Alumni News for Spring 2025. My thanks to Jennie Chen, Director of Communications at Yale School of Music and Katherine Darr, Director of Development and Alumni Affairs, for contacting me.
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Maya and The Magic Ring — first public performance on March 29th at The Midwest Trust Center, Kansas City, MO
Above: Luke Harnish as The Genie (from rehearsal at Lyric Opera Kansas city on March 24, 2025) “Be careful what you wish for!” Maya and The Magic Ring, a new opera for families. This original story is by Dana Gioia with music by Lori Laitman, and it was commissioned by Lyric Opera of Kansas City.
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Becoming a Redwood — The Songs of Lori Laitman and Dana Gioia Recital
On Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 4 pm at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, the young artists of Lyric Opera of Kansas City will present a concert featuring the artistic collaboration between Lori Laitman and Dana Gioia. The songs span more than 2 decades, and will also include the world premiere of Majority
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Premiere recording of The Imaginary Photo Album
The Imaginary Photo Album was commissioned by the BBC and The Royal Philharmonic Society for soprano Katharina Konradi and she and pianist Joseph Middleton premiered the work in Wigmore Hall on October 25, 2020. I am excited to announce that a new mezzo-soprano version has been created, and Katie Leemhuis and Sam Martin will be
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Washington National Opera Chorus to premiere Standing at the Edge, a new Mary Oliver setting
My new SATB/piano piece, Standing at the Edge, is a setting of Mary Oliver’s poem You Are Standing at the Edge of the Woods. The piece was commissioned by the Washington National Opera Chorus under the direction of Steven Gathman. The premiere is March 2, 2025 at 3 pm St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 4001 Yuma
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Artist-in-Residence and performance of The Three Feathers at UNLV March 2025
I am thrilled that I will be an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Nevada Las Vegas from March 11-15, 2025. My visit will culminate with a production of The Three Feathers, my fairy-tale opera with librettist Dana Gioia, on March 14 at 7:30 pm and March 15, 2025 at 2 pm at the Judy Bayley
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Orchestra New England performance of Becoming a Redwood, March 8, 2025
Orchestra New England, conducted by Maestro James Sinclair, will perform Becoming a Redwood, with tenor soloist Thomas Cooley on March 8, 2025 at 7:30 pm at Battell Chapel on the Yale Campus, New Haven, CT. This cycle sets 4 poems by Dana Gioia and this is a new version for chamber orchestra.
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The Russian Chamber Art Society — Concert December 6, 2024 at The French Embassy in Washington, DC
My music, along with works by Margarita Zelenaia, will be presented on The Russian Chamber Art Society Series on December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm at The French Embassy in Washington, DC. Works will include the American premiere of my song cycle The Imaginary Photo Album, as well as my Holocaust-themed song cycle The Seed
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NOA/NATS 2025 Conference
I’m so pleased to announce that I will be presenting at the NOA/NATS 2025 Conference in Savannah, GA, January 5-8, 2025. Uncovered‘s librettist Leah Lax, stage director & dramaturg Beth Greenberg and I will be part of Casey Robards’ panel “Centering Women’s Voices — New Works by Lori Laitman, Anthony Plog and Bruce Trinkley.” Several