Chelsea Loew
Chelsea Loew, Composer in Residence
Chelsea Loew (b. 1992: Charleston, SC) is a composer and performer whose interests are rooted in emotion, humanity, nature, and interaction. Her music has been described as “beautiful, warm, soft, and sensual” with “bursts of color and brightness” (EarRelevant). Her works often explore the relationships (both constructive and damaging) between language, communication, and expression. Driven by a curious spirit and a desire for connection, her music is highly gestural and textural with interactive and aleatoric elements, and she frequently collaborates with artists from other disciplines.
Chelsea’s music has been featured at venues and festivals including MOCA Georgia, National ACDA, National Museum of Wrocław, Musica Polonica Nova, Sacrum Profanum at Play Kraków, the Composer’s Conference at Brandeis, the National SCI Composers Conference, New Music on the Point, Nief-Norf, and Cameron Art Museum. Her compositions have been performed and recorded by ensembles and musicians such as Chór Narodowy Forum Muzyki, Yarn/Wire, Popebama, Latitude 49, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Vim, Peabody Laptop Orchestra, and Tony Arnold. Chelsea has received support for her work through grants and residencies from the Fulbright Program (US-Poland), the Ellis Beauregard Foundation, and SongFest.
As a performer, Chelsea is a founding member of Ensemble Decipher, a modular, technology-focused experimental music group, and a core alto member of the Taylor Festival Choir, where she serves as composer-in-residence. She is described to possess “ethereal vocalizations reminiscent of the music of Caroline Shaw and Roomful of Teeth.” (New York Theatre Wire)
Currently residing in Wilmington, NC, Chelsea serves as Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington where she teaches composition, upper-level music theory and aural skills courses, and orchestration. She also serves as Composition faculty for Nief-Norf Summer Festival. She holds degrees from Stony Brook University (PhD), Eastman School of Music (MA), and College of Charleston (BA).
Outside of music, Chelsea loves cooking, caring for her many plants, exploring the outdoors, and making ceramics.
Get To Know Our Artists
Where did you do your musical training?
Stony Brook University (PhD), Eastman School of Music (MA), and College of Charleston (BA)
When did you first start performing with the TFC?
St. Patrick's Day, 2013
What is your all-time favorite choral work?
My "favorite" is always shifting, but one that I've never sung and wholeheartedly adore is Schnittke's Choir Concerto (someone please program this and hire me!)
Where do you live now? And where do you call “home”?
I live in Wilmington, NC and spend a good deal of time also in Charleston, SC (my home)
What is your favorite hobby outside of music?
I love making ceramics
Who is your favorite singer?
Rachael Price (of Lake Street Dive)
Who is your favorite actor?
Right now, I'm really loving Florence Pugh!
Favorite movie or play?
Elf
What is your favorite meal?
Whole crispy fried flounder with apricot glaze (Charlestonians who remember Garibaldi's know what I'm talking about!)
Who is your favorite sports team?
Since I am not an avid sports girlie but I do love a good competition, I have a tendency to root for the opposite team of the company I'm with
Do you have a favorite TFC or “singing with Rob” anecdote?
When TFC toured Ireland years ago, Rob sang Pastures of Plenty and forgot the words, so he confidently sang "crops" one or two (let's be honest.. three or four) too many times. As a prank lover, I later engraved his arrangement for him complete with the performance note, "It is common performance practice to change ending lyrics to "crops" repeatedly and with valor at performers' whim, ie. 'white sparkling crops' " ;)