About

Faye-Ellen Silverman is an American composer whose works draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including her Jewish heritage. Some of her works, such as A Free Pen, have evolved from her commitment to free speech. Her decades of working with the International Women’s Brass Conference have led to the creation of several works for brass instruments. While many of her compositions are for solo, chamber and vocal genres, she also enjoys writing for choir, orchestra, and other large medium. 

Dr. Silverman began studying at the Dalcroze School of Music shortly before her fourth birthday. At age 13 she won the Parents League composition contest, judged by Leopold Stokowski, resulting in her Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist - playing her winning composition on Stokowski’s Symphony of the Air concert. She holds a BA from Barnard College (cum laude and honors in music) and an AM from Harvard University in music composition. She is the first woman to receive a DMA in music composition from Columbia University. Her composition teachers have included Otto Luening, William Sydeman, Leon Kirchner, Lukas Foss, Vladimir Ussachevsky, and Jack Beeson. Over 100 of her compositions are published by Seesaw Music, a division of Subito Music Corp. and recorded on several music labels. She became a published composer at age 24 and an ASCAP member at age 25.

Silverman's awards include the selection of her Oboe-sthenics to represent the United States at the International Rostrum of Composers/UNESCO, resulting in international radio broadcasts; winning the Indiana State [Orchestral] Composition Contest, resulting in a performance by the Indianapolis Symphony; a Governor's Citation; and having September 30, 1982, named Faye-Ellen Silverman Day in Baltimore by Mayor Donald Schaeffer. Additionally, she has been the recipient of a National League of American Pen Women’s biennial music award, yearly Standard Awards from ASCAP (now known as ASCAPlus) since 1983, several Meet the Composer grants, and an American Music Center grant. She has been a fellow at artist colonies in France (VCCA-France), Italy (Villa Serbelloni), Spain (Fundación Valparaiso), Sweden (VICC) and the United States (Yaddo, McDowell, and VCCA). She has received numerous commissions including those from Japanese trumpeter Kana Madarame, the American Brass Quintet, the Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra, and the Fromm Music Foundation.

The Baltimore Symphony, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, the Canton Youth Symphony, Kollective366, the New Orleans Philharmonic, the International Experimental Music Festival in Bourges (France), the 4th International Donne in Musica Festival in Fiuggi (Italy), ISCM - Korea section, Nieuwe Oogst (Belgium), Grupo Musica Hoje (Brazil), the Corona Guitar Quartet (Denmark), Jauna Muzika (Lithuania), the Monday Evening Concert series (Los Angeles), Voices of Change (Dallas) and the Aspen Music Festival are among the groups and concert series that have performed Dr. Silverman’s works.

She has taught at Juilliard (Extension Division), New York University (School of Professional Studies and Steinhardt), the Mannes School of Music (The New School), Eugene Lang College (The New School), the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, the Aspen Music Festival, the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, Goucher College, several branches of the City University of New York and Columbia University. She has also worked with pre-college level students and residents in senior living facilities. Dr. Silverman has lectured in Europe and throughout the United States, often as a visiting composer. European engagements have included lectures at Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw - sponsored by the Maestro Foundation - and to members of the Lithuanian Composers Union and composition students from the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy  - sponsored by the U.S. State Department. In the United States, she has been a visiting composer at the Aspen Music Festival, Capital University, Edinboro University Indiana State University, the Philadelphia Arts Alliance, Southern Methodist University, SUCO at Oneonta (1st Festival of Women Composers), Tidewater Festival, University of North Texas, University of Utah and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, to cite a few examples.

In addition to being a Founding Board Member of the International Women's Brass Conference (for which she has served as composer-in-residence), she serves as the Secretary of the Board of New York Women Composers. Dr. Silverman is also the author of several articles, record reviews for The Baltimore Sun, and the 20th century section of the Schirmer History of Music. An accomplished pianist as well - a former student of Irma Wolpe and Russell Sherman, - she has recorded for Radio Cologne (WDR), and has performed at the International Festival of Experimental Music in Bourges, the Library of Congress, and as soloist with the Brooklyn Philharmonic.

Please feel free to consult the following articles for further information:

Silverman, Faye-Ellen. ” Collaborating With the IWBC: a 30 Year Adventure.” Noteworthy, Volume 33 #2 (Fall 2022), pp. 3, 23-27.

Silverman, Faye-Ellen. “On Becoming a Composer.”  IAWM Journal, Volume 17 no. 1 (2011), pp. 17-23.

Silverman, Faye-Ellen. “Reflections on the Past Decade.” IAWM Journal, Volume 28 no. 4 (2022), pp. 15-19.