Submitted photo Los Angeles composer Austin Ali has won the Columbus Symphony’s inaugural composition competition.
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra has announced Austin Ali as the winner of its 2023 Composition Competition for his piece, “The Beginners Guide to Space Travel.” This work will be premiered by the mostly volunteer ensemble at its concert at 3:30 p.m. June 4 at The Commons, 300 Washington St.
Ali, a native of Texas, is a composer, trumpeter, and educator based in Los Angeles. An insatiably curious person, he said he strives to inspire wonder through his music. From complex-meter jazz to spacey orchestral scores, he seeks to compose infectiously fun and unforgettable music.
Ali graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin, earning two undergraduate degrees in four years (music composition and Plan II Honors) and studying composition principally with Yevgeniy Sharlat and Donald Grantham.
After completing his master’s in music composition from UCLA, Austin is currently pursuing his doctorate at UCLA, studying with Ian Krouse and Richard Danielpour. His compositions have been premiered by world-class musicians, including the Austin Symphony Orchestrain Austin, Texas, Spanish Brass in Valencia, Spain, and the Carpe Diem String Quartet in Siena, Italy.
As a trumpeter, Austin was named “Promising Artist of the 21st Century” on tour with Big Wy’s Brass Band, performing for the U.S. Ambassador and President of Costa Rica. Most recently, the Tampa Bay Symphony premiered his orchestral work “Defiant Overture” in February, April, and May 2023.
Ali is looking forward to the premieres of “The Beginner’s Guide to Space Travel” with the local symphony in June and his harp concerto by the Los Angeles Chamber Music Company in July.
