Award-winning Music Composer & Orchestrator

Nan Avant

PREMIER IN PRAGUE, CZECHIA 11.6.2026!

//  by 

https://mailchi.mp/37eeb26d7dbe/prague-premier

I am so excited to share this with you ALL! This has been in the works since 2025 and now is the time to share!

I was invited to compose a new work for Soprano and Orchestra. There are two segments to this invite: 1.Soprano and Orchestra and 2. Soprano and Piano. The title is Chanson~Parfum du Desir for Soprano and Orchestra and Chanson~Parfum du Desir for Soprano and Piano (same piece two versions) Our first premier will be the Soprano and Piano version and there will be a video of the concert that I will share.

Next up, in December we will be the recording the orchestral work for Soprano and Orchestra with the illustrious soprano Bree Nichols and the Nuernberger Symphony Orchestra,Germany. The recording, a Navona label, PARMA Recordings, will be a compilation album with the composers from our concert in Prague. Details coming soon along with another (completely different) exciting recording session and concert… I will aim for sending out newsletters a bit more often, but not too often!

The Invitation

From speeches and letters to poems and prayers, this project explores how women’s voices across time,

cultures, and languages have borne witness, challenged power, and shaped memory.

Composers are invited to create five-minute works for soprano and orchestra inspired by texts written or

spoken by women. Selected texts may be historical or contemporary, literary or archival, and may b e drawn

from public figures, unknown individuals, or personal sources.

This initiative i s led by soprano Bree Nichols and conductor Evan-Alexis Christ, with the participation of the

renowned GRAMMY-winning Nürnberger Symphoniker, and will include:

• A live concert performance o f voice and piano reductions i n Prague with video capture

• A studio recording of each work with full orchestra and voice

The Poetry

The poems were written during the Heirn era (794 – 1185) by Izumi Shikibu and Ono no Komachi in the original language of Japan.

The original poetry was translated into English by Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Aratani and were published in the book,‘The Ink Dark Moon”. The poems I used in “Chanson ~ Parfum du Désir ” are the French translation of “The Ink Dark Moon”, by Jane Hirshfield, translated into French by Geneviève Liautard.

I was in contact with both of these poets/ translators and I am so grateful for both Jane Hirshfield and Genevieve Liautard for their translations and advice during my composition process and to Bree Nichhols for her eloquent understanding of the French language and music.

The following images include the Title Page, Poetry Permissions, Poetry/ Lyrcis I used in my composition & Page 1 of Chanson~Parfum du Desir. The entire work, orchestral and piano version will be available on J.W. Pepper.. coming soon!

I am writing an in depth article regarding the composition process of Chanson~Parfum du Desir and will keep you all posted when it becomes availabl

 

 

Chanson~Parfum du Desir by Nan Avant

Preview title page, original poets, translator permissions, poetry/lyrics in composition and page 1 of Chanson~Parfum du Desir for Soprano and Piano.

The Recital Venue in Prague.

ATRIUM ZIZKOV

 

Sverige~ Swedish Radio-Poetry & Sirens of the Salish Sea :IV

//  by 

Thank you Swedish Radio!

I thought this was pretty awesome and wanted to share with you all..  Swedish Radio has been airing my most recent release from August 2025, Serenely Sailing isthe 4th movement of  the Orchestral Suite, Sirens of the Salish Sea which appears on the album, Journey to Serenity, a Navona label, PARMA recordings. And, as I was doing a search I found out that the station has a poetry reading, not sure if it’s weekly, and my piece was used as background during one if the readings in May. I’m honored that this piece was included as background!

Link to Poetry Listening page on SVERIGE  RADIO  

On the page you will see:  ” Musiken i avsnittet” with a drop down tab, click to see a link to Serenely Sailing on Spotify.

Anyway, I used Google Translate to obtain more clarity.

Here is the translation of what that photo details.

Sonja Åkesson was born on April 19, 1926. 
Photo: Owe Sjöblom/TT

Sonja Åkesson Centenary: "Skulden" (The Debt)
Poem of the Day · May 7 · 12:01 PM

POET OF THE MONTH ON P1: MAY |
 READING: Frida Hyvönen

POEM: "Skulden" by Sonja Åkesson

POETRY COLLECTION: *Ute skiner solen* 
(Rabén & Sjögren, 1965). 
Taken from *Dikter* (Norstedts, 2026)

MUSIC: Nan Avant: "Serenely Sailing" 
from *Sirens of the Salish Sea*

PERFORMERS: Anna Kislitsyna (piano), 
Royal Scottish National Orchestra,
 Miran Vaupotic (conductor)
Publisher: Peter O Nilsson

2026 UNSIGNED ONLY RESULTS ARE IN!!

//  by 

Honored to share that I made it in the  “RUNNERS UP” final list with Nani Lahaina~Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra! Many thanks to the Judges in this competition for their countless hours of listening.

There was only one winner in each category and there were thousands of composers/musicians that submitted. I feel very fortunate to have this honor or being on that list! Here it is to review, I’m under “INSTRUMENTAL”. I listened to the “winner” in my category and really like his music. Scroll lto the “Best Instrumental Artist” and listen to this cool recording by Malte Viefs Kammer

Continue the scroll under ” RUNNERS UP” and you will see NANI LAHAINA. Listening links for Nani Lahaina

Thank you Unsigned Only! This is a fabulous album by PARMA RECORDINGS, The London Symphony Orchestra, Miran Vaupotic conducting and Davide Alogne violinist.

2026 Winner! THANK YOU IC M Awards!

//  by 

PANGEA~CLASSICAL Sirens of the Salish Sea:IV Serenely Sailing for Piano and Orchestra is the 4th movement of the Orchestral Suite, Sirens of the Salish Sea, recorded by The Royal Scottish National Orchestra with Anna Kislitsyna piano and Miran Vaupotic conducting, a PARMA recotding on the Navona Label. This piece appears on the album JOURNEY TO SERENITY with several outstanding composers.

Thank you Intercontinental Music Awards for recognizing my orchestral work with this amazing honor! Listening link to Sirens of the Salish Sea:IV Serenely Sailing on Spotify and Navona Records all links to the album, Journey to Serenity

Listening link to Sirens of the Salish Sea:IV Serenely Sailing on Spotify and Navona Records all links to the album, Journey to Serenity

🎶 InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) Winners
About the InterContinental Music Awards
• The InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) is a prestigious global music
competition that recognizes exceptional artists from across the world
and celebrates music as a universal language of unity.
• Established in 2011, ICMA is based in Los Angeles, California, and is
dedicated to breaking cultural barriers through music and uplifting
independent and emerging artists by providing them with international
recognition, mentorship, and exposure.
• ICMA welcomes participants from every continent, regardless of their
language, commercial success, or country of origin. Over the past
decade, ICMA has proudly honored artists from more than 70 countries,
spanning genres from Pop, Classical, and Jazz to World Music, Folk,
Rock, and Electronic.
• The Awards have been recognized by the City of Los Angeles, the
California State Assembly, the California Senate, and have received Telly
Awards for Craft Use of live-streaming for the award ceremonies.

2026 FINALIST IN UNSIGNED ONLY

//  by 

UNSIGNED ONLY MUSIC AWARDS COMPETITION!

So excited to share that my orchestral work, Nani Lahaina~Rhspsody for Violin and Orchestra is on the list as a Finalist in the  “Unsigned Only Music Awards”. Super grateful and excited to be a Finalist!!

The Finalist list is in the Winner’s page and my music is in the Instrumental category.

FAN VOTING AND JUDGE’S VOTE.

There is an extensive list of Judges for the ” Judges vote” and a Fan voting portion to this competition.  If you feel inclined to vote for my piece, please click this link , scroll to ” Instrumental” and you will see my name, and … Thank you!

Voting for Fandemonium is open now and will close on August 28th. To listen to all the finalists’ songs and vote (you can only vote once per day!), go to: https://www.unsignedonly.com/fandemonium(opens in new tab)

Stay tuned.. the final winners will be announced in September and regardless of the outcome, I am honored to be one of the Finalist among so many talented musicians and composers in the UO Music Awards Competition! Nani Lahaina~ has it’s own page on my website, please check it out for a list of awards and honorable mentions.

Nani Lahaina appears on the 2025 Global Music Award’s Gold Medal Winning Classical Album, SymphonicStradivarius!

 

 

Interview w/ The Lazie Indie Magazine July 2026

//  by 

Q & A Interview on the Lazie Indie Magazine by Lyia Meta!

I met Lyia at the World Entertainment Awards this year, January 31st, 2026. We were in line to attend the amazing event at the famed ” Whiskey a Go-Go”.

Click  on the  <  >  to scroll through.     My Q & A is on Page 59!

 

Thank you Lyia Meta for this opportunity! This is a Q&A on The Lazie Indie Magazine published last week, July 28, 2026.

I met Lyia at the World Entertainment Awards this year, January 31st, 2026. We were in line to attend the amazing event at the famed ” Whiskey a Go-Go”. Walt and I both attended and it was awesome to meet Lyia who is a singer/songwriter with a beautiful voice!

 

2026 Intercontinental Music Awards Finalist!

//  by 

Thank you Intercontinental Music Awards for the Nomination and to be a Finalist!  I will keep you all posted on what happens in August at the Awards Event!

Listening link to Sirens of the Salish Sea:IV Serenely Sailing on Spotify and Navona Records all links to the album, Journey to Serenity

🎶 InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) Finalist Fact Sheet
About the InterContinental Music Awards
• The InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) is a prestigious global music
competition that recognizes exceptional artists from across the world
and celebrates music as a universal language of unity.
• Established in 2011, ICMA is based in Los Angeles, California, and is
dedicated to breaking cultural barriers through music and uplifting
independent and emerging artists by providing them with international
recognition, mentorship, and exposure.
• ICMA welcomes participants from every continent, regardless of their
language, commercial success, or country of origin. Over the past
decade, ICMA has proudly honored artists from more than 70 countries,
spanning genres from Pop, Classical, and Jazz to World Music, Folk,
Rock, and Electronic.
• The Awards have been recognized by the City of Los Angeles, the
California State Assembly, the California Senate, and have received Telly
Awards for Craft Use of live-streaming for the award ceremonies.

2027 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS NOMINEE!

//  by 

Thank you World Entertainment Awards for these 3 nominations! So excited to share that I have been nominated he  World Entertainment Awards 2027! My orchestral submission was Sirens of the Salish Sea V. Sirens of the Salish Sea. This is the 5th movement of the Suite recorded by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra with  the beautiful performance of pianist, Anna Kislitsyna and Miran Vaupotić conducting, A PARMA, Navona Records label where Sirens of the Salish Sea appears on the album, Journey to Serenity. 

The main event is in Hollywood and last year my husband Walt and I got to go. It was super fun!

2026 THE AMERICAN PRIZE:FINALIST!

//  by 

“ERNST BACON MEMORIAL AWARD for the PERFORMANCE of AMERICAN MUSIC” 

Great News! I’ve just been selected as a finalist (Nani Lahaina~Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra)  in the “Composer” division  of The American Prize ERNST BACON MEMORIAL AWARD for the PERFORMANCE of AMERICAN MUSIC. Here’s the link:ERNST BACON MEMORIAL AWARD FINALISTS.  Nani Lahaina is on the PARMA/ NAVONA RECORDS LABEL and appears on the album, Symphonic Stradivarius performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the virtuoso violinist,  Davide Alogna and the brilliant Miran Vaupotic conducting. The American Prize will be announcing results in my division soon.

You can learn more about this prestigious national competition here: www.theamericanprize.org or follow the news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-American-Prize-celebrating-American-excellence-in-the-arts/214320622728 or Twitter: https://twitter.com/americanprize “

2026: Unsigned Only Semi-Finalist!

//  by 

UNSIGNED ONLY MUSIC AWARDS COMPETITION!

Hello again!

I just found out that Nani Lahaina~Rhspsody for Violin and Orchestra is a Semi-Finalist in the “Unsigned Only Music Awards”. Super grateful and excited! Updates in August 2026! Semi-Finalist are listed by name alphabetically, look for Nan Avant.

Stay tuned.. regardless of outcome, I am honored to be a Semi-Finalist.. so many talented musicians and composers in the UO Music Awards Competition. Nani Lahaina~ has it’s own page on my website and it appears on the 2025 Global Music Awards Gold Medal Winning Classical Album, SymphonicStradivarius!