Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project Explained

Founded in 2001, the Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project (NACAP) is an outreach program of the Grand Canyon Music Festival that is dedicated to teaching Native American young people to compose concert music.^[1] Each year, young musicians work with a Native American composer and a string quartet in residence in partnership with their school's music program.^[2] For the 2011 season, the Sphinx Organization's Catalyst Quartet participated as NACAP's first Fellowship Ensemble.

In 2007 New York's WNYC aired a feature about the project on its program Soundcheck, narrated by Ralph Farris of the string quartet ETHEL.^[3]

NACAP is a winner of Arizona Governor's Arts Award for Arts in Education^[4] and in 2011 was presented with a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award by First Lady Michelle Obama.^{[5] [6]}

Composers-in-residence

• 2004–2019 - Raven Chacon (Navajo)
• 2006 - Adam Overton
• 2003 - Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate (Chickasaw)
• 2003 - David Mallamud
• 2001–2002 - Brent Michael Davids (Mahican)

String Quartets-in-residence

• 2015 - present - Sweet Plantain Quartet: Eddie Venegas, Joe Deninzon, Edward W. Hardy (2015), Orlando Wells, and Leo Grinhauz.
• 2012 - present - Catalyst Quartet
• 2005 - 2012 - ETHEL
• 2004 - Calder Quartet
• 2003 - Avalon Quartet
• 2002 - Corigliano Quartet
• 2001 - Miró Quartet

See also

• First Nations Composer Initiative
• Native American music

External links

• Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project official site
• NACAP Alumni Audio Samples

Notes and References

1. Web site: Native American Composers . . Gail . Wein . April 8, 2009. newmusicusa.org . 2022-01-30.
2. "The Native American Composer Apprentice Project", Native Village Youth and Education News, by Eileen Shimizu, April 1, 2009 Issue 196 Volume 4
3. "Young Minds, New Ideas", Soundcheck ®, October 29, 2007 http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2007/10/29/segments/87834
4. "Arts in Education Week: Recognizing Impactful Arts Education Programs", Arizona Commission on the Arts, by Mandy Buscas, September 14th, 2010 http://www.azarts.gov/news-resources/news/arts-in-education-week-recognizing-impactful-arts-education-programs/
5. "Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project Gives Students a Voice", The official blog of the National Endowment for the Arts http://www.arts.gov/artworks/?p=10428
6. "Grand Canyon Music Festival's Native American Composer Apprentice Project wins award", Navajo-Hopi Observer, 11/8/2011 http://www.navajohopiobserver.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=14048