Conor Abbott Brown

Conor Abbott Brown is a composer and clarinetist from Altona, Colorado.  His music is informed by the sweeping prairies, big sky, and jagged peaks of the American West.  His compositions often feature complex, driving rhythms, sustained tension, and ornamentation inspired by folk music from around the world.  Brown has had works commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, groundbreaking amplified chamber orchestra Dogs of Desire,  clarinet virtuoso David Krakauer, the American Symphony Orchestra, Contemporaneous, Ars Nova Singers, the Colorado Children’s Chorale, and many others.  His work Early Winter Spires was recently released on the record Scenes From Home by clarinetist Kellan Toohey.  Brown's composition Ladun hiihan laulajille was presented at the Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C. in commemoration of the centenary of Finnish indepence and will receive repeat performances in Helsinki, Finland, and in New York City at Carnegie Hall in the Fall of 2018.  As a performer, Brown has appeared as the guest principal clarinetist of the American Symphony Orchestra, and currently holds the position of clarinetist with the Boulder Altitude Directive, a chamber ensemble dedicated to performing the works of living composers.  Brown holds an MM in music composition from the University of Colorado at Boulder as well as a BA in dance and a BM in music composition from Bard College and the Bard College Conservatory of Music.