Mexican-born composer Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon joined the Eastman faculty in 2002. He received his undergraduate degree in guitar and composition from the University of California at San Diego, and both a master's degree and Ph.D. in composition from the University of Pennsylvania. He studied with George Crumb, Jay Reise, Franco Donatoni, Keith Humble, and Jean Charles François. Prior to joining Eastman, Zohn-Muldoon held positions at the School of Music, University of Guanajuato, Mexico (1993-95), and the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati (1997-2002).
Zohn-Muldoon's honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, Tanglewood Music Center (Omar del Carlo Foundation), Camargo Foundation, Endowment for Culture and the Arts of Mexico, a Mozart Medal from the Embassy of Austria in México, and commissions from noted institutions and ensembles in México, the U.S., and Europe. In 2003, he received a commission from the Fromm Foundation for a piece for the Tarab cello ensemble, as well as a Fromm/Walton Residency in Italy for summer 2004.
His works have been performed by such groups as eighth blackbird, Chicago Contemporary Chamber Players, Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, Earplay, Neue Ensemble Hannover, and San Francisco Contemporary Players. Performances have taken place at ISCM World Music Days, National Public Radio's "St. Paul Sunday," Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gaudeamus International Music Week, Academy of Arts in Munich, Festival Internacional Cervantino, and Foro Internacional de Musica Nueva, among others.
Recent projects include Comala, a scenic cantata based on Juan Rulfo's Pedro Páramo, premiered by The Furious Band at the Festival Música y Escena in México City, and chamber works for the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, Sirius Ensemble, cellist Juan Hermida, and the CCM Guitar Ensemble. He is currently working on the miniature opera Niño Polilla, on a libretto by Juan Trigos Sr., for the festival A/Devangarde, in Germany.
