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articles / The Ultimate 101

Caroline Shaw: Re-Imagining the Potential of the Human Voice

The Ultimate 101New MusicVocalWomen in Classical

Caroline Shaw | Photo by Dashon Burton/Caroline Shaw

We’re celebrating the Classical California Ultimate Playlist with a series of fun and informative blogs about the music you love.

I first encountered Caroline Shaw at a PBO Sessions event in San Francisco which showcased contemporary women composers. I had a tough time getting her musical contribution to the evening out of my head. And that’s a good thing!

Caroline Shaw is a New York City-based violinist, singer, and composer. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2013 for her a cappella piece Partita for 8 Voices which she composed for her vocal group, Roomful of Teeth.

The Grammy-winning vocal project describes itself as being dedicated to re-imagining the expressive potential of the human voice. A native of North Carolina, Shaw began playing the violin at the age of 2, which must have given her parents pause!

The Ultimate 101New MusicVocalWomen in Classical
Written by:
Dianne Nicolini
Dianne Nicolini
Published on 09.13.2021
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