Montclair Records Announces the Release of Dawn, Debut Album by Rising Composer Vonn Vanier

Montclair Records, in association with CEN/The Orchard, is proud to announce the release of Dawn, the debut album of 18 year-old composer Vonn Vanier on May 16. Produced by Grammy nominee Jeremy Cohen, Dawn features seven original compositions for orchestra, chamber ensemble, and solo piano which highlight Vanier's distinctive musical voice and remarkable artistry. Now available on all major streaming platforms, the album marks the emergence of a compelling new voice in contemporary classical music.

The album's centerpiece includes two orchestral works, performed by the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Daria Novo: Rhapsody in C Minor, written in 2023, and Vanier's debut orchestral piece, Lost at Home, a symphonic poem inspired by Erich Maria Remarque’s novel All Quiet on the Western Front. Additional compositions include works for chamber ensembles—Witching Hour and Jagged, both performed by Quartet San Francisco; Shimmer, for piano quintet, featuring pianist Brenda Vahur with Quartet San Francisco; Bloom, for wind quintet, performed by Quinteto Latino and OPCI for solo piano exploring the realm of atonality with Brenda Vahur at the keyboard.  

Vanier’s journey in music began as a chorister with the Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys in San Francisco and continued through three summers at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Growing up and learning his craft in San Francisco and the vast splendor of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Vonn Vanier brings to music a creative impulse, a determined work ethic and a cultural perspective that differ from those of the typical conservatory background. With Dawn, Montclair Records celebrates Vonn Vanier’s debut and invites listeners to experience the artistry of an emerging voice whose talent and vision signal a compelling future in music.

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ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Vonn Vanier is a composer and pianist. He received his primary musical training in the professional San Francisco Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys, after which he began composing music. He continued to develop his compositional voice while attending the Boston University (BU) Tanglewood Institute composition program in the summers of 2022-2024. His music has been performed and/or recorded by the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra, Quartet San Francisco, the New Fromm Quartet, Quinteto Latino, the Vento Chiaro Wind Quintet, the Tanglewood Institute Young Artists Orchestra, and the Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. Vanier is a resident of Jackson, Wyoming.