Innova Recordings is the independent record label of the American Composers Forum, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1982 as a way to document the the winners of the McKnight Fellowship offered by its parent organization, the Minnesota (now (American) Composers Forum. During the course of these early years it produced several sampler LPs featuring the works of a range of Minnesota composers, many of whom have since gone on to national prominence. These include Eric Stokes, Libby Larsen, Paul Schoenfield, and Steven Paulus. With the advent of the compact disc, Innova began releasing selected highlights from the top ensembles — such as the Dale Warland Singers, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Alexander String Quartet — that had been on the Composers Forum concert seasons. An independent record label is variously described as a record label operating without the funding (or outside the organizations) of the major record labels, and/or a label that subscribes to indie philosophies such as DIY and anti-corporate art. ... The name Saint Paul may refer to one of several possible meanings or references, though it is most commonly used to refer to the Biblical Paul of Tarsus. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ... Libby Larsen (born December 24, 1950, Wilmington, Delaware) is one of the Americas most performed living composers. ... Paul Schoenfield is a classical composer born in 1947 in Detroit. ... The Dale Warland Singers were a highly successful and critically acclaimed 40-person choral group of the United States. ... The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO), based in St. ...

In 1994, Innova opened its doors to artists with a finished master tape wanting access to its established distribution network. Under this scheme, the Recording Assistance Program, Innova expanded its catalog considerably under this program, which is known as the Recording Assistance Program. The label now produces between twenty and twenty-five CDs per year. There are currently over 200 titles in the catalog, ranging from new classical to, experimental, electronic, jazz, world, and no-genres. It is best known for its series of releases featuring Harry Partch and Henry Brant, as well as its activities introducing less established artists and composers to the larger music scene. For its services to artists, it was awarded an endowment by the McKnight Foundation to subsidize its ongoing activities. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Harry Partch (June 24, 1901 – September 3, 1974) was an American composer. ... Henry Brant (born September 15, 1913) is a highly significant California-based composer of art music based on spatialization and limited aleatory. ...

External Links

Innova Recordings.

From the McKnight Foundation Website. McKnight Artist Fellowships.

American Composers Forum.