Roberto Sierra Photo by Dewey Neils, courtesy of Cynthia B. Herbst, American International Artists

Continuing a century-long commitment to new music, The Philadelphia Orchestra has commissioned Roberto Sierra and seven other distinguished composers to write works for its Centennial, which falls in the year 2000. For each commission, the Orchestra will seek out ways to develop closer relationships between the composer and the various constituencies served by the Orchestra. As part of his residency, Mr. Sierra will work to increase the Orchestra's visibility within Philadelphia's large Latino community. During his residency in February 2001, Mr. Sierra will attend the world premiere of his Centennial Commission, the Concerto for Orchestra, which will be heard on three subscription concerts. It will also be performed in six youth concerts geared especially to Spanish-speaking audiences.

Mr. Sierra began his musical education in his native Puerto Rico before furthering his training at the Royal College of Music, University of London, and the Institute for Sonology in Utrecht. He completed advanced studies in composition at the Hochschule fur Musik in Hamburg under Gyorgy Ligeti, and he is currently Professor of Composition at Cornell University. Mr. Sierra's works have been performed by orchestras throughout America and by such renowned artists as percussionist Evelyn Glennie, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, and cellist Carlos Prieto.

from Essays 60 seconds Quintet of the Americas