2025 Composer-in-Residence:
Leah Reid

Leah Reid is a composer, sound artist, researcher, and educator, whose works range from opera, chamber, and vocal music, to acousmatic, electroacoustic works, and interactive sound installations.

Winner of a 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship, Reid has also won the American Prize, first prizes in the International “New Vision” Composition Competition, the KLANG! International Electroacoustic Composition Competition and Musicworks’ Electronic Music Competition, Sound of the Year’s Composed with Sound Award, the International Alliance for Women in Music’s Pauline Oliveros Award, and second prizes in the Iannis Xenakis International Electronic Music Competition and the International Destellos Competition.

Reid has worked with and received commissions from ensembles such as Accordant Commons, Blow Up Percussion, Concavo & Convesso, Ensemble Móbile, Guerilla Opera, the Jack Quartet, McGill’s Contemporary Music Ensemble, Neave Trio, Sound Gear, Talea, and Yarn/Wire.

She is currently an Assistant Professor of Music Composition at the University of Virginia.

2025 Ensemble-in-Residence:
Excelsis Percussion

Hailed as “One of the most innovative and exciting percussion ensembles to emerge in the golden age of chamber music” (Jonathan Haas, New York University) for their immersive sound world, New York City-based Excelsis Percussion Quartet is Marcelina Suchocka (Poland), Aya Kaminaguchi (Japan), Britton-René Collins (United States), and Mariana Ramirez (Mexico).

This international group of women with a multilingual combination of five languages join together to speak the universal language of rhythm, rooted in their belief that music possesses an ability to unite us all. Excelsis brings vibrancy to the percussion community through eclectic programming, innovative storytelling, and embracing their intersectional identities.

Excelsis’ breadth of repertoire spans from classical to avant-garde. As advocates for multi-genre representation and equality in chamber music programming, Excelsis charms audiences with versatile and uniquely innovative concert experiences. Excelsis proudly endorses Sabian Cymbals and Pearl/Adams instruments.