Madeline Barrett is a Los Angeles-based composer of concert music known to evoke imagery of nature and foster human connection. Raised in Phoenix, AZ, she draws inspiration from the world around her, whether it be the oceans of the North American coast, the deserts of Arizona, or the softly bustling streets of Boston.
Madeline’s new art song, Autumn Rain, based on the poem Immortality (Do Not Stand by My Grave and Weep) by Clare Harner, is a reflection on death and grieving and was recently premiered in collaboration with soprano Hilá Plitmann. In addition to many US performances, Madeline’s works have been performed in Italy and Austria, by esteemed groups such as Orchestra Senzaspine, Salastina, Carpe Diem String Quartet, Quatuor Diotima, Fivemind Reed Quintet, Boston New Music Initiative, and PHACE ensemble, as well as Stefano Greco, SUUVI, Lisa Pegher, and Michelle Rice.
Madeline was a participant in Salastina Music Society’s 2021-22 Sounds Promising Young Composer Program, studying with Derrick Skye. Later in 2022, she studied in the Global Academy at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, during which time her string quartet, BLOOM, was premiered in the Primavera Chigiana Concert Series. Most recently, her orchestral work Flight of the Monarchs was premiered as a part of the 2023 Primavera Chigiana Concert Series. She also won the 7th Annual Boston New Music Initiative Young Composer Competition for her work The Flowers That Close at Night.
Madeline has a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Chapman University and a Master of Arts from UCLA, and past composition instructors include Jeffrey Holmes, Sean Heim, Vera Ivanova, and Ian Krouse. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Composition, continuing her studies at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music in the studio of Richard Danielpour.
