Biography
Composer Rebecca Farmer (b.2003) utilizes inspiration from the natural world to influence her use of tone and texture within her music. She often finds herself in exciting experiences to collaborate with others, creating multi-faceted and cross-disciplinary projects.
Farmer is currently pursuing her Masters in Music Composition at the University of Louisville. She got a Bachelor of the Arts in Music with an Emphasis in Composition at Utah State University. She studied with Dr. Stephen Mitton. She has also received her Minor in Entrepreneurship. Farmer’s development as a musician is distinguished by her love for learning and passion for genuine connection. She seeks opportunities for growth as a composer, teacher, performer, and mentor.
Farmer is a composer, pianist, teacher, cellist, Colorado Composes Project alumnus and mentor, and Composers Institute and Studio alumnus and former Vice-Executive Producer of the program. She was a proud “Piano Teacher of the Year (2023)” in USU’s Youth Conservatory, Undergraduate Teaching Fellow in the music program at USU, and founding member of the Mt. Logan Symphony.
Farmer has sought opportunities to collaborate on commissions and projects since her first year as an undergrad. She completed a commission for a choreographer giving her Masters Thesis focusing on the evolution of ancient to modern dance while exploring traditional Hebrew music and more contemporary techniques. The project was titled Be Apart or Be A Part, also recounting commentary on the Covid Pandemic. She also collaborated with Utah Public Radio as they sought background music for their podcast featuring Temple Grandin in partnership with the Utah Stem Action Center.
In 2023, Farmer received the Eric Stokes Grant Earth’s Best in Tune to produce a concert of her original compositions for chamber ensemble surrounding themes of environmentalism. She used the funding to budget money for performers, advertising, using the Russell Wanlass Performance Hall, and audio and visual recording of the concert. The concert, One Planet, One Problem, featured works written for different combinations of ensemble for clarinet, cello, marimba, and piano.
In 2024, Farmer began her research towards The Art of the Duo and Value of Collaboration. She explores the duo as a laboratory for understanding the collaborative process between musicians and non-musicians focusing on three specific points. First, this project is a means to showcase and broaden skills as a composer. Second, this project researches the strengths and weaknesses of common and abnormal instrumental pairings. Third, this project will explore interdisciplinary collaboration. She has undertaken many exciting projects to put the research to practice including composing music for a children’s book, writing music for and underscoring Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and participating in a creative arts internship with NASA. Additionally, she was accepted and participated in ICEBERG Institute in Orlando, FL.
