# Evan Mack

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{{short description|American classical composer}}
thumb|Evan Mack

'''Evan Mack''' (born 1981) is an American [composer](/source/composer), [librettist](/source/Libretto) and pianist on the faculty of [Skidmore College](/source/Skidmore_College).  He is "considered one of the most gifted composers of his generation by industry insiders."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicalamerica.com/news/newsstory.cfm?archived=0&storyid=41652&categoryid=7|author=Susan Brodie|title=Top 30 Professionals of the year|publisher=MusicalAmerica|date=December 4, 2018|access-date=June 21, 2019}}</ref> He is currently published with Hal Leonard,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.action?itemid=8711531|title=Langston Hughes' Dream of Freedom|series=Contemporary Choral}}</ref> Alfred,<ref>[https://www.alfred.com/of-fire-and-form/p/00-41905/ "Of Fire and Form"]</ref> and KDP Publishing.<ref>{{cite book |isbn=978-1790809332 |title=Mack and Mcguire: Arias and Songs: From the Operas of Composer Evan Mack and Librettist Joshua Mcguire |last1=McGuire |first1=Joshua |last2=Mack |first2=Evan |date=10 December 2018 }}</ref>

==Studies==
Mack studied under Craig Lies, Michael Slayton and Stan Link at [Vanderbilt University](/source/Vanderbilt_University). He later studied with [Michael Chertock](/source/Michael_Chertock) of the [Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra](/source/Cincinnati_Symphony_Orchestra) and participated in master classes by [George Crumb](/source/George_Crumb), [Seymour Lipkin](/source/Seymour_Lipkin), [Emanuel Ax](/source/Emanuel_Ax) and [James Tocco](/source/James_Tocco).

He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the [University of Cincinnati](/source/University_of_Cincinnati)’s College-Conservatory of Music.
==Compositions==
Mack composed the music and libretto for his opera ''Angel of the Amazon'', which premiered in May 2011, staged by Encompass New Opera Theatre at the [Baryshnikov Arts Center](/source/Baryshnikov_Arts_Center) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) and was released worldwide by [Albany Records](/source/Albany_Records).<ref>{{cite web |title=Encompass New Opera Theatre Presents ANGEL OF THE AMAZON, 5/6-22 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/Encompass-New-Opera-Theatre-Presents-ANGEL-OF-THE-AMAZON-5622-20110412 |website=Broadway World |access-date=January 4, 2021 |date=April 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Schanil |first1=Autumn |title=Homegrown and making it big: Our very own Sullivan County celebrities |url=https://www.scdemocratonline.com/webpages/newsdetail.aspx?id=f6492995-f07c-436e-bb72-c88d56e13834 |access-date=January 4, 2021 |work=Sullivan County Democrat |date=March 10, 2016}}</ref> ''[Opera News](/source/Opera_News)'' hailed the work as "edgy...most imaginative...and a worthy contemporary American Opera".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2012/9/Recordings/MACK__Angel_of_the_Amazon.html|title=MACK: Angel of the Amazon|magazine=[Opera News](/source/Opera_News)|date=September 2012|volume=77|number=3|access-date=2019-06-21|archive-date=2019-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621044038/https://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2012/9/Recordings/MACK__Angel_of_the_Amazon.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He teamed up with librettist, Joshua McGuire. Their first opera titled, ''The Secret of Luca'' premiered in [Fresno](/source/Fresno) in April 2014. They followed up an American Grand Opera called ''Roscoe,'' which premiered by the [Seagle Music Colony](/source/Seagle_Music_Colony) in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.noa.org/2016/08/Review-World-Premiere-of-Roscoe-present.html|title=Review: World Premiere of Roscoe presented at the Seagle Music Colony|publisher=NOA|date=August 9, 2016|access-date=June 21, 2019}}</ref> Mack and McGuire's Multi-Cultural Children's Opera, ''Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena'' was commissioned by [Fresno State Opera Theatre](/source/Fresno_State_Opera_Theatre) and was seen by thousands of children with performances by [San Francisco Opera](/source/San_Francisco_Opera), [Opera in the Heights!](/source/Opera_in_the_Heights!), [Coker College](/source/Coker_College), and [UTRGV](/source/UTRGV).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fresnostatecah.com/2018/12/20/children-inspired-as-audience-grows-for-christmas-opera-lucinda-y-las-flores-de-la-nochebuena/|title=Children inspired as audience grows for Christmas opera 'Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena'|date=December 20, 2018|access-date=June 21, 2019}}</ref> Their one-act opera, ''The Ghosts of Gatsby'' was commissioned by Samford University under the direction of [Kristin Kenning](/source/Kristin_Kenning). This tale of marriage and madness about a day-in-the-life of [Zelda Fitzgerald](/source/Zelda_Fitzgerald) and her husband, [F. Scott Fitzgerald](/source/F._Scott_Fitzgerald) won the 2018-2020 National Opera Association's Argento Competition.<ref>[https://www.noa.org/competitions/chamber.html "Dominick Argento Chamber Opera Competition: 2018-20 Competition Winner Announced"], noa.org</ref> ''The Ghosts of Gatsby'' was performed in its entirety at the 2020 National Conference in Cleveland by Baldwin Wallace under the direction of Scott Skiba.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Opera Association - 2019-20: Ghosts of Gatsby |url=https://www.noa.org/competitions/chamber/chamber-2019-20-gatsby.html |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.noa.org}}</ref> It was performed at Opera Las Vegas in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greg |date=2021-07-28 |title=The Ghosts of Gatsby // Opera Las Vegas |url=https://operalasvegas.com/productions/the-ghosts-of-gatsby/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=operalasvegas.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In March 2019, A Little More Perfect, composed by Evan Mack, was sung by Michael Miller at Glimmerglass Festival. It was based on the Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges decision which legalized same-sex marriage across the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Josie Hovis Contributing |date=2016-08-31 |title=Ginsburg 'enlightening' at Glimmerglass Festival |url=https://www.coopercrier.com/news/local_news/ginsburg-enlightening-at-glimmerglass-festival/article_44399440-028f-58e4-9ca0-724da6492c7c.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Cooperstown Crier |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, ''Dragon's Breath'', a opera by Evan Mack and Joshua McGuire, premiered at Samford University. It tells the story of 11-year-old Alan, who learns to manage his anger, personified as a dragon/butterfly, by accepting it as part of himself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burdett |first=Gillian |date=2024-08-01 |title=Seagle Festival opera entertains and educates Lake George youth |url=https://www.lakegeorgeexaminer.com/seagle-festival-opera-entertains-and-educates-lake-george-youth/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=The Lake George Examiner |language=en-US}}</ref> Currently, Mack & McGuire and director Christopher Mirto are composing a musical comedy called, ''The World Still Needs You, Boris Yeltsin''! and working on a new opera called ''A Nearer Mother'' based on the life of AIDS activist, [Ruth Coker Burks](/source/Ruth_Coker_Burks).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aldena |date=May 26, 2023 |title=Opera scenes bring audience to tears |url=https://www.lawrentian.com/archives/1024610 |website=The Lawrentian}}</ref>

Mack's choral suite, ''Langston Hughes’ Dream of Freedom'' was a Selection Winner of the National Association of Composers, [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco) and the UCM New Music Festival. The work is published by Hal Leonard. As a composer, he produced five full musicals (three for [children's theater](/source/children's_theater)). Hailed as “the Springtime Nutcracker,” Mack's ''Pinocchio'' was premiered at the [Charleston Civic Center](/source/Charleston_Civic_Center) by the Charleston Ballet.

Mack's work for two pianos, ''American Groove'', was performed by the [Westhuizen Duo](/source/Westhuizen_Duo) across the United States and South Africa throughout 2011. The work was a Selection Winner for the SCI Regional Conference in 2010 and premiered in Greensboro, North Carolina.  A choral work, ''Of Fire and Form'', commissioned by the West Virginia chapter of the ACDA premiered in February 2011 at the Clay Center in [Charleston, West Virginia](/source/Charleston%2C_West_Virginia) and was performed on tour by the [Marshall University](/source/Marshall_University) Chamber Choir.

==Performances==
Mack's compositions have been performed all over the United States, including [Glimmerglass Opera](/source/Glimmerglass_Opera),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.coopercrier.com/news/local_news/ginsburg-enlightening-at-glimmerglass-festival/article_44399440-028f-58e4-9ca0-724da6492c7c.html|author=Josie Hovis|title=Ginsburg 'enlightening' at Glimmerglass Festival|work=The Cooperstown Crier|date=August 31, 2016|access-date=June 21, 2019}}</ref> [The Baryshnikov Arts Center](/source/The_Baryshnikov_Arts_Center), the Seagle Music Colony, Winspear Opera House, Bass Hall, and numerous colleges and universities.

Mack performed as a pianist in the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Chamber Players, the [Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/Dayton_Philharmonic_Orchestra), and the [Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra](/source/Cincinnati_Symphony_Orchestra); including a performance in [Carnegie Hall](/source/Carnegie_Hall). He performed live for the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series at the Chicago Cultural Center.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.angeloftheamazon.com Angel of the Amazon]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mack, Evan}}
Category:American male classical composers
Category:Living people
Category:University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music alumni
Category:Skidmore College faculty
Category:21st-century American classical composers
Category:1981 births
Category:21st-century American male composers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Evan Mack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Mack) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Mack?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.