The World Premiere of James Adler’s “A Curtis Reflection” is to be presented by the Yamaha Artist Services Studio NY on Nov. 14.

The program will feature “A Curtis Reflection,” commissioned by and dedicated to the Curtis Institute of Music as part of their “100×100” initiative celebrating the Curtis Centenary in 2024, as well as works by composers Henco Espag, Paul Turok, Robert Schumann, Claude Debussy, and Vladimir Horowitz.

Adler commented on the event in a press release by saying, “When I was invited to participate in the 100 × 100 Curtis commissioning initiative by Dean Nick DiBerardino, I said, ‘Sign me up!” Curtis has given me so much; I wanted to give something back. Something musical. The initial request was to compose a five-minute work. But Nick pointed out that Roberto (i.e., Roberto Diaz, the president and CEO of the Curtis Institute) said that, since I graduated with both a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and a Master of Composition degree, I could write something much longer. The resulting work is A Curtis Reflection (2022–23) for piano solo, approximately 12 minutes long, in three movements. Thank you, Nick, Roberto, and your wonderful and supportive team!”

Recently Adler was named a Global Music Awards Silver Medal Winner for Outstanding Achievement in the Composer category for “That Star in the Picture.” The album features Adler’s musical theatre and arts songs with performances by mezzo-soprano Victoria Livengood in a new chamber version of “Pie Jesu” from “Memento mori: An AIDS Requiem.”