Thomas Schuttenhelm
Artistic Director

schuttenhelm@networkfornewmusic.org

Thomas Schuttenhelm is an American composer and guitarist whose compositions have a strong conceptual component exhibiting an intentional belatedness that gives expression to the post-historical conditions of the 21st century. His music uses embodied programs and celebrates in allusions to the musical, literary, poetic, visual, and theatrical influences that resonate throughout his compositions.

His compositions are commonly the result of collaborations with musicians, poets, actors and artists, and the music he writes is often as much ‘about’ the people he collaborates with as it is for them perform. For over a decade he has been performing with soprano Sarah (Hersh) Armstrong and has given collaborative concerts with poet Rafael Oses. 

Recent performances include collaborations with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra, Chorosynthesis, and Live Wires. In May, the New American Mandolin Ensemble will premiere his work “What The Thunder Said” in London. The Adirondack Youth and Adult Choirs will premiere two new choral works in June. His song-scena “Apollo’s Lament” will receive its premiere in the autumn of 2018 with tenor Justin Vickers. He was chair of the Program Planning Committee and Artistic Director for the Connecticut Guitar Society and later served as Vice-President of the Board of Directors. He also served as the Concerts Coordinator at Quinnipiac University. More recently he was the Artistic Advisor for the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra. 

More information on Thomas can be found on his website.

Philadelphia Inquirer: Network for New Music appoints Thomas Schuttenhelm its new artistic director by Peter Dobrin