Over the past 30 years, Wendy Reid has composed an ongoing set of musical processes based on nature, Tree Pieces, ranging from electro-acoustic chamber compositions to larger works for chamber orchestra and open ensembles in site-specific environments.

The processes attempt to reflect the inter-connection of all things (including ourselves) in nature. In performance, an attempt is made at a spontaneous unforced and unblocked growing of sound and silence in which emphasis is placed on formation rather than pre-established form, as in the building and shaping of cell-like units in living processes.


WENDY REID (b. Los Angeles, 1952) received degrees from Mills College (M.A.), the University of Southern California, School of Performing Arts (B.M.), and attended Stanford University, Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics. Between 1975-77, she was a private pupil of Nadia Boulanger in Paris and Les Écoles D'Art Americaines at Fontainbleau. Composers she has studied under include Terry Riley, Robert Ashley, Halsey Stevens, James Hopkins and film composer David Raksin. She is the recipient of numerous awards and grants including Meet the Composer/California, Meet the Composer/New York, Subito, ASMC, Innova, City of Berkeley, Oakland Museum, Paul Merrit Henry Prize, and others.

The Tree Pieces have been performed and broadcast throughout the United States, Europe and Asia by the Abel-Steinberg-Winant Trio, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, the Kronos Quartet, Other Minds 19, Interpretations, Mills Performing Group, Mills Contemporary Performance Ensemble (Steed Cowart), New Music Works Ensemble (Phil Collins), San Francisco String Quartet (Nathan Rubin), Ensemble Klee, Ruffled Feathers, Brassiosaurus, Tree Ensemble, sfSound and the bird ensemble, and others.

Reid produced the new music series ‘New Music with Birds, Frogs and Other Creatures’ sponsored by the Natural Sciences Department of the Oakland Museum and the San Francisco Art Institute. Since 1990, she has taught music composition at Mills College and violin at Holy Names University PMD. She currently teaches at her studio in Berkeley.