Ellis Ludwig-Leone

Ellis Joseph Ludwig-Leone (born 1989) is an American composer and songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York. Since 2012, he has led the chamber pop group San Fermin with whom he has released four studio albums, most recently 2020's The Cormorant. Outside of San Fermin, he has composed for a wide variety of contemporary classical ensembles and organizations, including New York City Ballet, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Brooklyn Youth Chorus, and often works with choreographer Troy Schumacher, harpist Lavinia Meijer, Attacca Quartet, and singer-songwriter Allen Tate.

Early life Ellis Ludwig-Leone was born in Rhode Island in 1989 and was raised nearby in Berkley, Massachusetts, a rural community on Massachusetts' South Coast. His parents, who are both painters and former visual arts professors, raised him and his younger sister. Growing up, he studied classical piano and was in a string of high school rock bands. He also played competitive basketball.

Ludwig-Leone subsequently studied classical composition at Yale University, from which he received an undergraduate degree in 2011.

Career Ludwig-Leone began composing while studying at Yale, writing music for his bands and ensembles. After graduating, he took part in an artistic residency at the secluded Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Alberta, Canada, during which he wrote most of the material that would become the record San Fermin. In addition, he has written ballets with choreographer Troy Schumacher for the New York City Ballet and BalletCollective.

In 2020, Ludwig-Leone founded the record label Better Company with Allen Tate and San Fermin manager Thomas Winkler.

Ludwig-Leone's influences include Sufjan Stevens, Miles Davis, Charles Ives, Paul Simon, Nico Muhly, Benjamin Britten, and The National.

Chamber Four Short Pieces for String Quartet (2011) for JACK Quartet Suite for Flute & Harp (2012) for Lavinia Meijer and Herman van Kogelenberg – Lavinia Meijer GROW (2012) for Decoda – Við Djúpið Festival The Impulse Wants Company (2013) for American Contemporary Music Ensemble – BalletCollective Dear and Blackbirds (2014) for Hotel Elefant – BalletCollective All That We See (2014) for Hotel Elefant – BalletCollective Invisible Divide (2015) for Hotel Elefant and Vanessa Upson – BalletCollective Until the Walls Cave In (2016) for Hotel Elefant – BalletCollective Simple Machine (2016) for NOW Ensemble – Ecstatic Music Festival Processional for a Doomed Wedding (2020) for Cecilia De Maria – Sony Classical Natural History (2020) for The Knights – BalletCollective Speech After the Removal of the Larynx (2021) for Attacca Quartet False We Hope (2021) for Eliza Bagg and Attacca Quartet

Orchestra How to Fake Your Death (2015) – Alabama Symphony Orchestra How to Fake Your Death (revision, 2016) – Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Common Ground (2015) – New York City Ballet Shadowy Figures (2019) for Lavinia Meijer – Het Gelders Orkest

Choir Lying in a Field, Age 67 and Singing in a Chorus, Age 14 (2016) – Brooklyn Youth Chorus with Wild Up Orchestra Bloom and Round Dance (2017) – Manhattan Choral Ensemble Who What When Where Why (and a few other questions) (2018) – The Crossing Daphne (2020) – Brooklyn Youth Chorus To Look for Owls (2020) for Chamber Choir of Europe – Sony Classical

Solo Elaborate Monument (2011) (piano) Night Loops (2014) – Lavinia Meijer and Sony Classical Simpler Language (2016) – Lavinia Meijer Sanctuary (2017) for Simone Dinnerstein (piano) – Terezín Music Foundation

Songwriting San Fermin (2013) for San Fermin Jackrabbit (2015) for San Fermin "No Devil" (2015) for San Fermin "Shiver" (2016) for San Fermin and Sam Amidon; with Sam Amidon Belong (2017) for San Fermin "Asleep on the Train" (2017) for San Fermin The Cormorant I & II (2020) for San Fermin In this House (2020) for San Fermin; with various artists

Score The Great Work Begins - Scenes from Angels in America (2020) – Ellie Heyman, director Ledge (short film) (2021) – Alex Edelman, director

Discography San Fermin

San Fermin (2013) Jackrabbit (2015) Belong (2017); co-produced with Peter Katis The Cormorant I & II (2020)

As composer Brooklyn Youth Chorus & International Contemporary Ensemble – "Lying in a Field, Age 67" and "Singing in a Chorus, Age 14" from Silent Voices (2016) Lavinia Meijer – "Night Loops" from (The Glass Effect (The Music of Philip Glass & Others) (2016) Lavinia Meijer & World Choir for Peace – "To Look for Owls" with Gereon Thesis from Peaceful Choir - New Sound of Choral Music (2020)

As arranger Allen Tate – Sleepwalker (2016); also producer Pure Bathing Culture – Hats (2020); also featured artist Wild Pink – A Billion Little Lights (2021)