Berkeley Symphony's groundbreaking new music series, Under Construction, takes on a new concert format this season! Listen to the orchestra "test-drive" works written by Bay Area emerging composers at the first concert. Watch as the Symphony experiments with different musical passages to culminate in the complete, polished piece at the second concert. Plus, Q&A sessions with the composers and Music Director Joana Carneiro follow the presentation of each work. A musical transformation from start to finish! "In other words, this will be a full-immersion experience for the newest members of our Under Construction Composers Program, and a great opportunity for our audience to witness the composers' creativity in action." -Creative Advisor Gabriela Lena Frank Throughout the season, the Under Construction Composers will have ample opportunities to participate in private and small group meetings with Creative Advisor Gabriela Lena Frank, Music Director Joana Carneiro, guest artists, and orchestra musicians on all aspects of artistic and career development. To catch our composers in action, be sure to check back with us for behind the scenes video clips, sound samples, and blog updates.

2010-11 Under Construction Composers announced! Read the press release  2010-11 Under Construction Events:    Joana Carneiro, Music Director    Venue: St. John's Presbyterian Church Sunday, January 16, 2011, 7 PM Sunday, March 13, 2011, 7 PM    Purchase tickets online or by calling 510-841-2800 ext. 1

Meet our 2010-11 Under Construction Composers

David Coll, a versatile, young San Francisco-based composer, has written music for various disciplines, from concert hall to theatre and dance to interactive installations. He has studied at the University of Illinois and IRCAM in Paris, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California-Berkeley. His work is slowly gaining exposure in Europe with performances at festivals such as the World Music Days/ Gaida Festival, Gaudeamus Muisc Week, Voix Noubelles, as well as with collaborations with musicians such as cellist Severine Ballon, soprano Donatienne Michel-Dansac, baritone Lionel Peintre, and pianist Sebastian Berweck.

David studies primarily with Edmund Campion and Erk Ulman, and has participated in master classes with composer Brian Ferneyhough, Alvin Curran, and Philippe Leroux.

Mark Ackerley received his undergraduate degree in Piano Performance at the Texas State University. While at TSU, he studied composition with Russel Riepe and was the winner of the 3rd Annual Texas State Composition Competition. Ackerley recently earned his Master's Degree in Composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of David Garner and Conrad Susa. He also won the Sumi-E 24 Hour Composition Competition with work, "LoL."

Fouteen-year-old Joe (Shuo-Chun) Lin was born in Taiwan and moved to California with his family in 2008. He began learning the piano at the age of five and composed his first piano piece when he was seven years old. He currently studies music theory and orchestration with Jerry Gerber, and piano with Boris Solokin. In the past, he has also studied composition with Michael Kaulkin at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's Preparatory Division.

Read the 2010-11 Under Construction Composers press release.
Read the 2009-10 Emerging Composers in Residence press release.
Read an August 2008 interview from the Berkeley Daily Planet.