Elizabeth Ogonek

Elizabeth Ogonek is an American composer and Associate Professor of Composition at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, where she also serves as Chair of the Composition Department, effective Fall 2024. Previously, she held academic roles as Assistant Professor of Composition at Oberlin Conservatory (2015–2021) and Cornell University (from 2021 onward). Her work bridges avant-garde techniques with traditional orchestration, exploring complex harmonies and dynamic textures in both chamber and orchestral settings.

Educationally, she holds degrees from Indiana University (BM, 2009), University of Southern California (MM, 2012), and Guildhall School of Music and Drama (DMus, 2017). Her research focuses on expanding the boundaries of contemporary classical composition through innovative instrumental combinations and narrative-driven structures.

Her awards include recognition from the ASCAP Foundation, Royal Philharmonic Society, and American Academy of Arts and Letters. Notable commissions include works for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and BBC Proms. She has held residencies at the Music Academy of the West and Lakes Area Music Festival, co-commissioning orchestral pieces like Starling Variations.

Her artistic output spans orchestral works like Cloudline (2021) and chamber pieces such as Darkenings (2021), reflecting explorations in timbral experimentation, rhythmic complexity, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Grants and residencies have supported her innovative approaches to composition and pedagogy.