About

The music of Jack Frederick (b. 2006) explores the intersections of environmental scenes, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the modern classical tradition, often engaging with performers across disciplines to create work that is both a call to action, as well as artistic. His 2025 season includes a performance of a guitar duet at the CWU New Music Festival, following its earlier premiere in Jordan Hall; a saxophone trio commissioned by the Trinity Trio, presented at the University of Missouri–Kansas City; and ongoing work with percussionist–composer David Moliner through an intensive online masterclass.

In 2025, Frederick was named a winner of the CWU New Music Festival Call for Scores and will present new work as part of his residency at Arts Letters & Numbers, as well as the High Score Festival in northern Italy. Since beginning his studies at the New England Conservatory with Michael Gandolfi in 2024, he has twice been named a fellow of the school’s Entrepreneurial Musicianship departments and was awarded the Honors Ensemble Composition Competition. His work at NEC has also included performing in a choir in the American premiere of Sibelius’ The Maiden in the Tower and in productions of Brahms’ and Duruflé’s Requiems. He has participated in masterclasses with Christian Wolff, Ingrid Laubrock, Ikue Mori, and David Moliner.

Frederick’s formative training includes a year at Interlochen Arts Academy, where he composed for a wide range of ensembles, studied with Dr. Cynthia Van Maanen, and performed as Tenor Saxophone 1 in both the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra. Masterclasses participated in include: The Imani Winds, Joan Tower, Patrice Rushen, Bill Banfield, and others. He attended the Brevard Music Festival in 2023, working with Dr. Robert Aldridge, Dr. David Dzubay, and Dr. Greg Simon, composing works for solo piano, saxophone quartet, and symphonic band. His earlier influences include jazz saxophone studies and early composition projects during high school, ranging from film scoring to arranging for his school’s wind ensemble.

Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Frederick’s artistic development has been shaped by a dedication to collaboration, a curiosity for diverse musical traditions such as Jazz, Blugrass, etc. and a commitment to creating music that connects audiences and performers alike.

“My artistic vision is to create art that is as powerful and as communicative as possible.”

— Jack Frederick

Awards & Recognitions

  • Jack was selected as a winner for Central Washington University’s New Music Festival Call for scores. His work “Crossroads” will be performed during the festival, which takes place from October 12th to October 14th, 2025.

  • For the summer of 2025, Jack will be staying at Arts, Letters, and Numbers’ residency program outside of Albany, NY. This program will culminate in a community performance where Jack shares his work about music and the environment.

  • During the 2024-2025 school year, Jack was selected as a winner in the school’s annual honors ensemble competition. This resulted in a performance of a string quartet titled “Look Up” in Jordan Hall by the Calandra quartet.

  • In the 2024-2025 school year, jack was named a fellow by NEC’s CEPS department. Jack received a fellowship through the “Community Fellowship” and the “Ensemble Fellowship”. Both of which result in numerous community performances per semester.

  • Jack Frederick has been in the Boy Scouts of America program since the Age of 5. In the Fall of 2023, he earned the rank of Eagle scout. Additionally, he earned 3 palms along with this rank, and was his troop’s Order of the Arrow representative. Within his troop, he held every leadership position.