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M421 - Vox Novus newsletter
Celebrating 15 Years of Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame

Celebrating 15 Years of Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame: Expanding Artistic Careers

By Lauren Dean

Now in its fifteenth year, Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame—which features 15 one-minute works written by distinct composers for a specific musician or ensemble—has grown from a once-a-year performance to an almost monthly endeavor. Since 2020, more than 25 shows have occurred, thanks in part to a move from live New York performances to online streams that can happen from anywhere.

As the platform has expanded, so too have the careers of many participating artists, forming a kind of symbiosis between the two. Speaking on this relationship in recent interviews, artists expressed how Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame helped take their careers to the next level, broadened their creative work, and benefited them in unanticipated ways.

One of the most impressive features of the project is the facility with which artists move between the roles of musician and composer. While many artists began participating as composers and were later invited to perform, others used their performance as an opportunity to compose their very first piece.

“I’ve had around twenty of my pieces performed,” says guitarist and composer Rodrigo Baggio, who flew from Brazil to New York to participate in Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame in 2015. For him, this was a way of pulling double duty, showcasing his work on both sides. “It gives the composer the chance to actually have their piece performed,” amplifying their voice, but also gives musicians a platform to engage with other musicians, as well as composers, which leads to new projects, collaborations, and performances.

But it can also stretch artistic work in the opposite direction. Oboist Robert Botti, who has performed frequently with the New York Philharmonic Ensembles for thirty years, wrote his first piece in 2014 when he participated in Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame. While it wasn’t a career-expanding move, it was uncharted territory for him as a performer and a musician—and an uplifting experience that has stayed with him over time.

That novelty is what many of the artists who participate value most. “This is the beauty of experimenting with new compositions to convey the composer’s intention through your own vision,” says Bayan accordionist and composer Stas Venglevski, who first performed in Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame in 2023. “For any artist it is important to be who you are,” but finding your voice within the series of compositions has the effect of pulling musicians in new directions.

“Being able to pick the pieces definitely helps,” soprano Jenny Ribeiro says. “It can stretch your artistry, your textual content,” given the diversity of submissions. With performances in 2011 and 2013, she acknowledges that “the pieces are written for your voice, so the composers are listening to your recordings beforehand, and that really shows off your artistry to the best advantage.” And yet, with an upcoming performance in 2024, she also knows that her voice has changed in the last ten years. “I used to be a high, light soprano, but now I sing Wagner. So the new compositions that come in should reflect the change in my voice.” This reflexive relationship between the composer and the musician, gives both sides an opportunity to expand. “I love that Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame is very much for the artist and for the composer. It’s not weighted one way or the other.”

Plus, having the mediation of Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame is “gold” in the words of soloist and French horn player Mary Beth Orr. “It’s hard to get commissions for new works—if you don’t want to keep doing the classical cannon of white male composers. As an artist, showing the world your work, it’s priceless to have [Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame] commission these composers for you.”

With pieces designed specifically for her, “from a career standpoint,” she says, “that’s a big deal.” In fact, the works she performed in her 2023 Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame debut are now part of her flagship branding. When she crowdfunded her first solo album for release in September 2024, she used the pieces commissioned for her by Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame. “The diversity, the exposure, having new pieces commissioned specifically for you that are from all over the world”—those are all “big benefits,” she says.

The Singing Horn

Mary Beth Orr and the release of her album "The Singing Horn"

Featured on this album are works from Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame and the works by composers: Mitch Boucher, Erik Branch, Lydia Lowery Busler, Sara Christie, Andrew Desiderio, Tom Haines, Brian Holmes, Michael Kosch, Michael Laus, Matthew Murchison, P. F. Strohm, Jean-Pierre Vial, Anneloes Wolters, Justin Writer, and Jianing Yang.

THE SINGING HORN from classical hornist and folk vocal artist Mary Beth Orr bridges the divide between opposites — folk and classical, raw and refined, life and loss. The first five tracks of the album flow like a song cycle, interweaving folk and classical elements, and culminating in the haunting beauty of “Oh Death.” Later, we hear Good and True, inspired by the birthing song of the Dagara Tribe as described by Sobonfu Somé. The works harness the synergy of horn and voice as vessels for storytelling. Anchored by heartfelt reflections on motherhood, love, and grief, THE SINGING HORN is an artistic testament to the bittersweet complexity of human experience.

Celebrating 15 Years of Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame: Expanding Artistic Careers (continued)

By Lauren Dean

And while most of the interviewed artists agree that performing without pay comes with the territory in the creative world, they’re also enthusiastic about the opportunities that the project affords. “New music has not always been the highly funded part of classical music,” says Jenny Ribeiro. “I’m not going to not do it because there’s no pay. I love it. It’s a passion project. But you can use it to get a paycheck in other ways. It’s a new music forum. Just for being a part of the organization, you can leverage it.”

She adds that, in the past, although she did a lot of solo work, she did not consider herself a professional soloist. “I just didn’t think of it as a business model,” she says. However, now that it is a part of her business model, “this project is important,” not only for her but for composers and collaborators. “It’s about relationships and relationship building.”

Rodrigo Baggio agrees that Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame, while unpaid, has a “financial advantage.” In his case, he used it as a platform to showcase his work as a performer, meet like-minded musicians, and initiate new projects from those contacts. “This is a very different project because it combines many places in the world and also different aesthetics,” he says. It’s an important platform for “like minds to get together to expand vocabularies on certain topics.” This struck him particularly in contrast to his experiences in Brazil, where musicians remain somewhat segregated by music type. “I was blissful of Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame in that sense because it combines many types of musical languages and gets them together.”

Classical pianist Stephen Porter elaborates: “To give an unpaid concert in a special place, of special music, perhaps in a different country, can lead to making wonderful contacts, further concerts, recordings, reviews, new commissions, online exposure, and help to expand one’s career.” With Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame performances in 2013 and 2016, he adds that “I’ve made friends with composers involved in Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame that have led to all of those things.”

Indeed, for some the project has been fundamental in informing their artistry. “This project is part of the tapestry of my musical experience,” says soprano Mary Hubbell, who participated in Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame in 2014 and 2023. “It has offered me a chance to grow and take chances as a performer, connected me with other performers and composers, and is folded into how I think of myself as a singer (classically trained with special experience in new music).”

But with all the benefits that artists speak of in connection to Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame, sometimes it’s the simple things that matter most: “Seeing composers faces of gratitude when I performed their work,” Mary Beth Orr says, “that means a lot.”

Celebrating 15 Years of Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame

This special edition on NM421 is the second of a special 5 part series of interviews with musicians who have been featured on Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame.

The first installment was published on February 8th, 2025. The next installment will be published on April 12th, 2025.

Vox Novus is asking composer who have submittied to Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame to share their stories about their one-minute works. (Whether they have been selected for a set of 15 or not)

Vox Novus is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its groundbreaking project, Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame, and we want to hear from you! Whether you are a composer, musician, dancer, performing artist, or audience member, your story is part of the rich tapestry of this project’s legacy.

Selected stories will be featured in the NM421 / Vox Novus newsletter and shared on our social media platforms and other publicity avenues. Contributors of chosen stories may also receive a limited-edition T-shirt created to commemorate this special anniversary year.

Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame is an extraordinary initiative that brings together 15 composers to write one-minute works for a specific musician or ensemble. Over the past 15 years, the project has premiered works by more than 1,000 composers and collaborated with over 100 musicians, fostering creativity, innovation, and meaningful connections in the world of contemporary music. You can submit your story here:

Submit
https://forms.gle/3NEFYYYAu5UpuPbT9

Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame featuring CAMP

Announcing selections for Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame featuring Contemporary Art Music Project

Vox Novus and Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame is proud to announce the selected composers for its latest Call for Scores for Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame featuring Contemporary Art Music Project. These exceptional works will be featured in upcoming performances by renowned musicians Eunmi Ko (piano/Suzuki Andes recorder keyboard), Kevin von Kampen (percussion), Sebastian Stefanovic (viola), and Katherine Weintraub (saxophone), continuing CAMP’s mission to promote contemporary music and interdisciplinary collaboration. The winning compositions include:

  • Music for piano and viola in A minor – E. Bugra Balci
  • On, Off – Logan Barrett
  • Vertical Advection – Douglas DaSilva
  • Mini-Werk XXXXXIII WVE-401 – Shigeru Kan-no
  • crazy – Jona Kümper
  • Deduce, Decycle, Defuse – Ralph Lewis
  • Look Where the Light is Best – John Liberatore
  • Dérive – Shiwei Liu
  • Elodea - Flow with Grace in Eb Mixolydian – Emily Macklow
  • Polytonal – Vinícius Nascimento
  • Moonbeast – Darth Presley
  • rituals I the sundance – Volker Ignaz Schmidt
  • Choro em 7 – André D. Tuffo
  • Picnic – Joseph M. Vogel
  • The Restlessness On The Horizon – YU Zhuen
These works showcase a dynamic range of styles and artistic perspectives, reinforcing CAMP’s commitment to fostering new and innovative music.

For more information on upcoming performances and CAMP’s initiatives, visit contemporaryartmusicproject.org.

Andrew White

Call for Vocal Scores

Deadline:
March 31, 2025

Vox Novus is calling for one-minute pieces composed for Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame with baritone Andrew White with or without electronic accompaniment to be premiered online in 2025 Only works one-minute in length for baritone voice will be considered with or without electronic accompaniment.

Find more information and submit at
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Yumi Suehiro

Call for Piano Scores

Deadline: May 1, 2025

Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame Featuring Yumi Suehiro Vox Novus is thrilled to announce a new edition of Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame, featuring the acclaimed pianist Yumi Suehiro. Composers are invited to submit one-minute compositions that showcase the piano’s expressive and dynamic capabilities while highlighting Ms. Suehiro’s exceptional artistry and technical virtuosity.

Find more information and submit at
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Andrew White

Call for scores for the Glissotar

Deadline:
May 27, 2025

VCalling for one-minute pieces composed for Glissotar featuring the talents of innovator Daniel Vaczi. The Glissotar is a unique, modern wind instrument that extends the capabilities of the saxophone and tarogato. Designed without traditional tone holes, it features a continuous wooden tone chamber with a specially designed slot with a magnetic ribbon attached, allowing for seamless glissandi, microtonal precision, and expressive timbral shifts.

Find more information and submit at
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Yumi Suehiro

Call for Piano Scores

Deadline: June 1, 2025

Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame featuring soprano Coco Lau Vox Novus is honored to announce a Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame call for scores featuring the distinguished soprano Coco Lau. Renowned for her exceptional artistry, technical virtuosity, and compelling stage presence, Ms. Lau has captivated audiences worldwide with her dedication to the performance of contemporary music and her deep commitment to the art of storytelling through song.

Find more information and submit at
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Heroines

Call for Scores: Heroines

Deadline:
June 16th, 2025

r Vox Novus invites composers to submit one-minute works for Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame featuring Mary Beth Orr, an acclaimed French horn player and vocalist. This special edition, titled Heroines, celebrates the stories of heroines from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and imaginations. The theme for this call is Heroines, inviting composers to craft works that are programmatic in nature and tell the story of a heroine of their choosing.

Find more information and submit at
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Yumi Suehiro

Call for Scores

Deadline: June 30, 2025

Compose a bold, one-minute masterpiece! Fifteen Minutes of Fame seeks miniatures for hichiriki and/or alto, bass, or contrabass flute for the dynamic duo Thomas Piercy and Lish Lindsey. Explore rich timbres and unique sonorities in just 60 seconds of music. Submit now and let your creativity shine!

Find more information and submit at
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