An American composer based in London, Arlene Sierra is acclaimed for vivid, darkly energetic music that takes its impetus from rich sources including military strategy, Darwinian evolution, and game theory. Described by Time Out New York as "spry, savage, sly and seductive" and by The Guardian (UK) as "rewardingly knotty… the most distinctive and expressive of the evening," her works have been heard worldwide in performances by the Tokyo Philharmonic, the London Sinfonietta, New York City Opera VOX, ICE, Psappha, the Albany Symphony, Lontano, Collage New Music, the Schubert Ensemble and many others. Recent compositions include a piano concerto Art of War for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a Cheltenham Festival commission Insects in Amber for the Carducci Quartet, and a New York Philharmonic commission for chamber orchestra, Game of Attrition. Her debut CD with Bridge Records, Arlene Sierra Vol. 1, is the first of a new series produced with major funding from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, the Ditson Fund at Columbia University, and the Classical Recording Foundation. A graduate of Oberlin (B.A., B.Mus.), Yale (M.Mus.) and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (D.Mus.), Sierra is currently Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in Composition at Cardiff University School of Music. www.ArleneSierra.com