Ted Hearne

Contemporary American Composer and Vocalist

Ted Hearne (b. 1982) is an American composer, performer, vocalist, bandleader, member of electronic/vocal duo R WE WHO R WE, and one-sixth of a composers' collective Sleeping Giant. Since 2014, Hearne works as an assistant professor of composition at USC Thornton School of Music. He studied at Manhattan School Of Music and Yale University School Of Music. Some of Hearne's recent commissions include works for The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, New World Symphony Orchestra, The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Albany Symphony Orchestra. Ted also wrote chamber works for Eighth Blackbird, Yarn/Wire and the FLUX Quartet, and vocal compositions for Volti (2), The Crossing (3) and Roomful Of Teeth. Hearne had been collaborating with a diverse range of artists, such as multi-instrumentalist/composer J.G. Thirlwell, jazz vocalist René Marie, harpist Zeena Parkins, film-maker Bill Morrison (6) and M83 band. In 2013, he wrote a concert program for Erykah Badu, based on re-arranged songs from New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War) album. The work was premiered by Badu with Alan Pierson and The Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music. As a conductor, Ted Hearne had been on stage with Wet Ink, Tilt Brass Band, Ensemble Pamplemousse, and International Contemporary Ensemble. He served as music director for the world premiere theatrical productions by David Lang and Michael Gordon (2), and sang in a few contemporary operas, including Jacob Cooper's Timberbrit and James Ilgenfritz's The Ticket that Exploded.