Here is his piece "Finding Rothko" which he wrote for the IRIS chamber orchestra in Tennessee.

(MUSIC)

STEVE EMBER: We asked Adam Schoenberg about his composing process.

ADAM SCHOENBERG: "Every composer is different. I always get my notes at the piano, first and foremost. And I tend to sit down and improvise. Within those improvisations certain motives and ideas will come about that I like."

STEVE EMBER: He writes down his ideas, then continues his work away from the piano. He uses a computer notation program called Finale to put the work together.

So what does Adam Schoenberg think of contemporary classical music?

ADAM SCHOENBERG: "Something happened post-World War Two where a divide occurred between the audience and the composer. And today I feel like composers are reconnecting with the audience and the orchestra. I think it's an incredibly exciting time because we can now draw on so many different sources that we are influenced by, and I sort of feel like anything goes."

(MUSIC: “Gazebo Dances” by John Corigliano, University of Texas Wind Ensemble)

BARBARA KLEIN: Our program was written and produced by Dana Demange. I'm Barbara Klein.

STEVE EMBER: And I'm Steve Ember. You can read and listen to this program at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also find last week's program about composers, including two women who have won Pulitzer Prizes, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Jennifer Higdon. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English. Join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.