(Credit: John Rogers)

Tyshawn Sorey has been named Opera Philadelphia’s New Composer-in-Residence.

His residency, which is set to begin in Nov. 2019, will be the first of a new phase of the company’s renowned program. In his residency, Sorey will work with a wide range of singers in different phases of their respective careers in order to develop his understanding of the voice. He will also work have an opportunity to observe rehearsals and performance and have access to the Opera Philadelphia staff to gain deeper insight into the inner workings of the opera world.

Sorey’s “Cycles of My Being,” which he created with lyricist Terrence Hayes for tenor Lawrence Brownlee, premiered with Opera Philadelphia back in 2018.

“I’m thrilled to join Opera Philadelphia as Composer in Residence,” Sorey said in a press release. “Working with the company on ‘Cycles of My Being’ was an excellent collaboration, and I’m looking forward to spending more time there exploring opera as a form, storytelling, and the voice.”

Other previous Composers-in-Residence include Lembit Beecher, Missy Mazzoli, Andrew Norman, David T. Little, David Hertzberg, and Rene Orth.