The Columbia University Department of Music is happy to announce that Dr. Marcos Balter will be joining our department as the Fritz Reiner Professor of Musical Composition. Professor Balter was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1974 and studied piano and composition as a child. He received a Master’s in music composition and theory from Texas Christian University and a Doctor of Music Composition from Northwestern University in 2008. His music has been described by The New York Times as “whimsical” and “surreal,” by the Chicago Tribune as “minutely crafted” and “utterly lovely,” and by The Washington Post as “dark and deeply poetic.”

Earlier this year, Professor Balter received a 2022 American Academy of Arts and Letter Music Award. In early April, the New World Symphony gave a premiere of his piece Orun. Previously, he’s received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, Tanglewood Music Festival, and the Civitella Ranieri Foundation.

Upcoming this year, Professor Balter has world premieres with the New York Philharmonic and the Orquestra do Estado de São Paolo. He also will be releasing an album featuring a collaboration with King Britt and Alarm Will Sound ensemble.

The Department looks forward to welcoming Dr. Balter this summer!