Carolyn Quick

Carolyn Quick
(she/her)

Portland-based composer and soprano Carolyn Quick (she/her) is “a composer of great renown” (Dr. Justin Smith) and “one of the most important voices in our community” (Makrokosmos). She writes music that is “deeply meaningful,” making a “huge impact on both singers and audiences” (Smith) as she explores interwoven lines, conversational counterpoint, and unique timbral and textural possibilities - particularly those of the human voice. In her work, she strives to set texts that are raw, and vulnerable, often gravitating toward lesser-known poetic voices. Recent commissions include the Portland Phoenix Chamber Choir, Fear No Music, Eugene Opera, and the Cincinnati Song Initiative.

Throughout her work as a composer and vocalist, Carolyn advocates for historically excluded composers and their music and co-founded new music collective Persisting Sound and music distribution collective Raindrop New Music to uplift those voices.

Most recently, Carolyn completed two vocal commissions and competed in the NATS Student Auditions, qualifying for the National Competition Round. The first commission by Queens University of Charlotte’s Royal Voices of Charlotte (directed by Dr. Justin Smith), is a sacred work for a cappella mixed choir premiered at the 28th International Choir Competition of Preveza in Greece, winning the Special Jury Prize for Best Performance of a Contemporary Piece. The second commission is through the National Association of Teachers of Singing and Cincinnati Song Initiative. Carolyn was one of twelve selected participants for the NATS Mentorship Program this year and her piece, which sets a brand-new text by British Columbia-based poet JCCortens, will be premiered alongside the other participants in Cincinnati Song Initiative’s Let It Be New concert series this Summer.