By HOLLY PRESTIDGE Richmond Times-Dispatch

Mason Bates is changing the dynamics of today’s symphony orchestra experience, and for that reason the Richmond native has been named the first composer-in-residence at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Currently the Mead composer-in-residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as well as composer of the year for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Bates’ blending of classical music with electronic sounds and techno beats has made him an emerging audience favorite nationwide.

With a separate career as a dance-club DJ, the 38-year-old graduate of St. Christopher’s School has inspired a new genre of contemporary symphony music that includes the sounds not often associated with classic orchestras — that of local artists and DJs, Kennedy Center officials said.

Bates’ three-year residency begins with the 2015-16 season. Although he will perform during that time, his biggest roles will be writing music across classical and modern platforms, including for the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Fortas Chamber Music Concerts and contemporary dance performances. He’ll also be instrumental in establishing a contemporary music series that takes performances beyond the Kennedy Center to alternative venues.

“By presenting new art to audiences in new ways, Mason will help initiate a new era of creative programming,” Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said.
Bates earned the Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities in 2012, and in 2014 was named the second-most-performed living composer by symphony orchestras.

He’s also a graduate of The Juilliard School, Columbia University and the University of California at Berkeley.

Orignal Article HERE