Ted Babcock is a Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist.
His compositions take unlikely inspiration from disparate sources, ranging from Greek epics to computational architecture. Works for large ensemble include pieces written for the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, the America Composer’s Orchestra Earshot Program, and the Philadelphia Wind Symphony. His recent commissions include new works for Sandbox Percussion Quartet as winner of the Creative Mentorship call for scores, a commission for the Viano String Quartet, a new work for flute and percussion Coriolis Duo, a work for the Mendelssohn Chorus and marimba as winner of the Inaugural Joyful Abundance Competition, and a song cycle for Soprano Ashley Robillard and members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Other works include pieces for arx duo percussion, percussionist/videographer Evan Chapman, flutist Antonina Styczen, and pianist Amy Yang.
His first solo album Trilogies was praised by I Care if You Listen as “…worthy of redefining the repertoire on the vibraphone.” Since then he has founded his own group, the Dialogues Quintet, to record a new concert-length work featuring him as a vibraphonist. The Dialogues Quintet has received generous support from the Avaloch Farm Music Institute, as well as an Alumni grant from the Curtis Institute of Music.
In addition to his work as a composer, he is two-time Grammy-nominated performer for his work with The Crossing Choir and has played with Grammy award-winning contemporary music groups such as the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and eighth blackbird. He has also appeared with many leading chamber ensembles such as Opera Philadelphia, Astral Artists, and the NOVUS ensemble of Trinity Wall St. An avid collaborator, he has worked with many of the leading composers of our time such as Tristan Perich, Michael Gordon, David Lang, Gabriella Smith, David Hertzberg, George Crumb as well as many others. His playing has been featured in ‘best of’ lists in the New York Times and National Public Radio, as well as Rolling Stone Magazine. As a recording artist, he can also be heard on labels such as Navona, Tzadik, and New Focus Records.
He received degrees in composition and percussion from the Curtis Institute of Music as well as Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He is currently pursing his DMA in composition at the University of Michigan.