The HB Compose Yourself! Project is Hoff-Barthelson’s annual composition Master Class for young composers, directed by HBMS faculty member Derek Cooper and produced in collaboration with Copland House.

The HB Compose Yourself! Project provides a rare opportunity for students to receive feedback from renowned, award-winning composers on works that they have written. This year’s guest composer is Nils Vigeland.

Master Classes are open to the public to observe free of charge, but reservations are required.

RSVP here.

Nils Vigeland, born in Buffalo, NY in 1950, is a pianist and composer. He made his professional debut in 1969 with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under Lukas Foss. Vigeland studied composition with Foss at Harvard (B.A., 1972) and later earned a Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo, studying with Morton Feldman and Yvar Mikhashoff.

Vigeland’s first orchestral piece was performed by Foss and the Buffalo Philharmonic in 1970. His works have since been performed by renowned groups such as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Oslo Radio Orchestra. Notable compositions include “Piano Concerto” (1984) and “False Love/True Love” (1992), premiered by the English National Opera.

He has recorded collaborations with artists like Jenny Q Chai, Daniel Lippel, and John Popham, and his recent work, “Pale Fire,” a 90-minute solo piano piece, premiered in 2023. Vigeland toured extensively with Morton Feldman as part of “Morton Feldman and Soloists” and directed The Bowery Ensemble (1980-1989), premiering numerous contemporary works.

A long-time educator, Vigeland taught at the Manhattan School of Music for thirty years, retiring as Chair of the Composition Department in 2013. His music appears on labels like Mode, Naxos, and Lovely Music, and his choral works are published by Boosey and Hawkes. To learn more, visit nilsvigeland.com