biography
The music of Hilary Purrington tells compelling stories through expressive lyricism and vibrant orchestration. Her work has received recognition from the American Academy of Arts and Letters; the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; the International Alliance for Women in Music; and the National Federation of Music Clubs, among others.
Purrington’s orchestral and chamber works have been performed by many distinguished ensembles, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, American Modern Ensemble, and the Chicago Harp Quartet. Her orchestral work Likely Pictures in Haphazard Sky, premiered by the Yale Philharmonia, has been read by the Philadelphia and American Composers Orchestras and performed by the Minnesota Orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony, among many others. Recent commissions include new works for the Juilliard Orchestra, New York Youth Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. For the 2018–19 season, Purrington was named the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra's Composer of the Year and served as composer-in-residence for the Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble. She is a 2020 recipient of an orchestral commission from the League of American Orchestras' Women Composers Readings and Commissions program, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Also an accomplished vocalist, Purrington has developed a reputation as a skilled composer of solo and choral music. Recent vocal commissions include new works for The Thirteen, Yale Glee Club, Young New Yorkers' Chorus, and C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective. She recently completed a new opera for New Camerata Opera, created in collaboration with librettist Hannah McDermott and animation studio Catarata. In 2022, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke's album how do i find you, which includes Purrington's art song That Night, received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. Most recently, Purrington's treble choir work Stars like goldfish won the Young New Yorkers' Chorus 2023 Competition for Young Composers. Purrington has also composed several works for dance. In 2018, the Albany Symphony commissioned Patterns, a new work for chamber orchestra. Inspired by the life of fashion arbiter Ellen Louise Demorest, the piece featured the Albany Berkshire Ballet with choreography by Mary Talmi. Purrington also participated in Periapsis Music and Dance’s Emerging Artist Residencies and created a new work with choreographer Annalee Traylor, which premiered in May 2019. While attending The Juilliard School, Purrington collaborated with choreographer Stephanie Terasaki to create a new work for brass quartet and dance.
A versatile collaborator, Purrington worked with children’s author Mo Willems to compose an original piece that appeared in the book Because (Hyperion Books for Children, 2019). Illustrated by artist Amber Ren, Because tells the story of a young girl who devotes herself to studying music and grows up to become a professional conductor and composer. The book reached The New York Times’ Best-Seller List and continues to charm and inspire young readers across the world.
Originally from western Massachusetts, Purrington lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and rescue dog. She holds degrees from the Yale School of Music, The Juilliard School, and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. A dedicated educator, she currently serves as chair of Juilliard Extension's composition program.
Purrington’s orchestral and chamber works have been performed by many distinguished ensembles, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, American Modern Ensemble, and the Chicago Harp Quartet. Her orchestral work Likely Pictures in Haphazard Sky, premiered by the Yale Philharmonia, has been read by the Philadelphia and American Composers Orchestras and performed by the Minnesota Orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony, among many others. Recent commissions include new works for the Juilliard Orchestra, New York Youth Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. For the 2018–19 season, Purrington was named the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra's Composer of the Year and served as composer-in-residence for the Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble. She is a 2020 recipient of an orchestral commission from the League of American Orchestras' Women Composers Readings and Commissions program, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Also an accomplished vocalist, Purrington has developed a reputation as a skilled composer of solo and choral music. Recent vocal commissions include new works for The Thirteen, Yale Glee Club, Young New Yorkers' Chorus, and C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective. She recently completed a new opera for New Camerata Opera, created in collaboration with librettist Hannah McDermott and animation studio Catarata. In 2022, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke's album how do i find you, which includes Purrington's art song That Night, received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. Most recently, Purrington's treble choir work Stars like goldfish won the Young New Yorkers' Chorus 2023 Competition for Young Composers. Purrington has also composed several works for dance. In 2018, the Albany Symphony commissioned Patterns, a new work for chamber orchestra. Inspired by the life of fashion arbiter Ellen Louise Demorest, the piece featured the Albany Berkshire Ballet with choreography by Mary Talmi. Purrington also participated in Periapsis Music and Dance’s Emerging Artist Residencies and created a new work with choreographer Annalee Traylor, which premiered in May 2019. While attending The Juilliard School, Purrington collaborated with choreographer Stephanie Terasaki to create a new work for brass quartet and dance.
A versatile collaborator, Purrington worked with children’s author Mo Willems to compose an original piece that appeared in the book Because (Hyperion Books for Children, 2019). Illustrated by artist Amber Ren, Because tells the story of a young girl who devotes herself to studying music and grows up to become a professional conductor and composer. The book reached The New York Times’ Best-Seller List and continues to charm and inspire young readers across the world.
Originally from western Massachusetts, Purrington lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and rescue dog. She holds degrees from the Yale School of Music, The Juilliard School, and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. A dedicated educator, she currently serves as chair of Juilliard Extension's composition program.