Marga Richter, left, and Herbert Deutsch, founders of the Long Island Composers Alliance, after a concert at the East Meadow Public Library presented by the group on Nov. 25. Photo Credit: Jeff Bachner for Newsday
The Long Island Composers Alliance (LICA) was founded in 1972 by composers Marga Richter & Herbert Deutsch. On May 19, 1972, the first concert by the Long Island Composers Alliance was held at the South Huntington Public Library. Since that time LICA has presented over 300 concerts featuring more than 1500 new compositions by over 100 Long Island based composers. LICA is the only organization devoted to creating, promoting, presenting, recording and preserving the best original, contemporary music by composers living and working on Long Island. LICA is a not-for-profit decentralized performing arts organization. Concerts are presented from eastern Suffolk to New York City in venues ranging from universities, public libraries and museums to art/performance spaces and commercial music venues.
Incorporated in 1975, LICA's primary mission is to represent the community of composers of the Long Island area and to present their work to a diverse audience. LICA has been funded over the years by various organizations and foundations including The Nassau County Office of Cultural Affairs, The Suffolk County Office of Cultural Arts, Long Island Arts Council, Huntington Arts Council, Hempstead Cultural Arts Center, Maldeb Foundation, Nassau County Re-Grant Programs for the Arts, Wantagh Arts Council, NY State Council on The Arts, Puffin Foundation, Prof. Edgar H. Lehrman Memorial Foundation, The Starfish Foundation, Chase Manhattan, Citibank Bank, Key Bank, Independence Savings Bank and the Brooklyn Borough President's Office.
An Afternoon of World Premieres
On May 3, 2009, the Long Island Composers Alliance teamed up with the American Chamber Ensemble to present an unusually exciting concert of new music written for A.C.E. and special guests. This program saw the finest of Long Island based performers and composers united in a single event. The concert was held at the Park Avenue United Methodist Church in New York City. The photograph included shows all of the composers and performers. From Left to Right: Erico Sato, Marilyn Lehman, Blanche Abram, Paul Hefner, Katherine Hoover, Jay Anthony Gach, Marga Richter, Christopher Oldfather, Stanley Drucker, Naomi Drucker, Herbert Deutsch, Chiu-Chiu Liu, Chris Finckel.
Information about historical members of LICA:
If you are interested in information about historical members of LICA, or have information you'd like to share with us about historical members of LICA, please contact our archivist, Herbert Deutsch, at Herbert.A.Deutsch@hofstra.edu.