A published composer, Pam writes chamber music for unusual combinations of instruments.
Her award-winning programs, recordings and other collaborations encompass a musical range of styles and genres which include classical, ethnic, jazz, pop and improvisational. Sources of inspiration include poetry by Cervantes and Rumi, environmental themes, Native American tributes, Ancient Egypt, meditation, the speed of light, absurdity, Halloween, and the Apollo 11 mission first-manned lunar landing.
Descriptions of her work include "Sklar's Two Journeys is an intimate soul voyage in two movements: Third Eye and The Inward Journey, both of heartrending beauty..." Recorded by Eight Strings & a Whistle, Ravello. Lesley Mitchell-Clarke, WHOLE NOTE
"Evocative... fascinating ...evokes a surreal state...a delight to hear. ...unusual combinations...excellent...." Todd Gorman, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE [Silver Pharaoh, An Original Tribute to Ancient Egypt]
"More engaging still is Flashes of Inspiration and Joy, written by Pamela Sklar... This is beautifully constructed and written by someone with a clear gift of melody... The piece was inspired by the Native American writer and artist of the Muscogee Creek Nation, Joy Harjo. ...a lovely musical image." Colin Clarke, FANFARE MAGAZINE
A 2020 Arts Initiative Award winner from ArtsWestchester for her creative project Words Into Music , this original project-composition first culminated in an informal virtual outdoor recording in September of 2020 and was performed live the following year. Composed in 2020, Words into Music was inspired by her conversations with more than forty individuals from Mount Vernon, NY, who shared stories about family situations, community issues and personal struggles. Their shared soulful emotions gave Pam powerful material to create with musically. Performing on Native American flute, flute and bass flute, Pam was joined by oboe and English horn players, respectively, Jim Ferraiuolo and John Frisch, and clarinetist/bass clarinetist Enid Blount Press.
In addition to Words into Music, other in-person presentations of Pam's works and projects included her quartet Mandolin on the Moon written for members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra string section, presented in the New York area including the Hudson River Museum Planetarium in conjunction with and for the museum's exhibition of the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission- first manned lunar landing. In New York City, Pamela presented a performance-career workshop for The New York Flute Club's Flute Fair and conducted her flute choir composition Homecoming (commissioned by and premiered at Hoff-Barthelson Music School). Other premieres in and NYC and elsewhere included her quartet for flute and strings CARA, by the Cara Quartet. Her Two Journeys was performed in NYC recitals and for high school/university clinics in Havana, Cuba, by Eight Strings and a Whistle
A winner of ArtsWestchester's 2022 Arts Alive Award for her new project Words into Music, Part 2, other composition highlights include a commission to write a new work for the New York State Music Teachers Association's annual conference. The premiere will be performed in October, 2026.
During the past several years, other commissions, performances and premieres of Pam's works include/d her new work Nirvana (third movement of Three Journeys) by Eight Strings and a Whistle, Renaissance Tales & a Playful Joust performed and recorded by Threeds, Third Eye & The Inward Journey recorded and performed by Eight Strings and a Whistle. The premiere of Pam's high-powered new work Down the Rabbit Hole was performed by Palisades Virtuosi. Other exciting collaborations included composing for and performing with The Faucon which included 2Flutes with mezzo soprano Anna Tonna, tenor Aram Tchobanian, and pianist Adam Kent at Lincoln Center's Bruno Walter Auditorium.
Other meaningful highlights include New York-area and international performances including Pam's wind quintet Green Awakening, commissioned & premiered by the award-winning eco-ensemble Englewinds. Pam's sonata for violin and piano The Ocean We Want was composed for an environmental sustainability program, presented in Manhattan and Madrid, Spain, by musicians from both cities including Isabel Dobarro. Other premieres/performances in Madrid and New York include her quartet The Chains of Love, inspired by Cervantes' poem, co-featuring mezzo soprano Anna Tonna with flute, alto flute and piano, presented by Mujeres en Musica in 2017 & 2018.
Additional notable performances of her music include works for mixed instruments presented at the National Flute Association Convention in Chicago, and other works written for double reeds presented by Threeds Oboe Trio at the International Double Reed Society Conference in New York City. Two of her compositions- Silver Pharaoh and The Sky, the Earth and the Afterworld can be heard on Threed's cd Palette.
A copy of her score of Spell 166 for five various flutes and organ is included in the Special Collection of the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts. A featured slide show with an inspired improvisation by Pam can be seen on Native Dream.
Other exciting projects include two seasons as an award-winning flutist & composer for performances and the recording of New York Tapestries from New York Women Composers for her duo 2Flutes with Laura Falzon. Pam continues to perform original and other varied music written for flute, alto flute, bass flute & Native American flute in concerts, including 2Flutes' debut album release event on September 25th in New York City.
Collaborations with ensembles and artists include/d Angels in the Chamber, Cambiata Duo, Double Entendre, Intuition Quartet, Northern Westchester Flutes, Ramapo Valley Chamber Ensemble, the River Trio, New England Music Camp, William Anderson, Joyce Balint, and many flutists.
Pamela Sklar's composing career evolved naturally as an extension of her performing career. Many years of listening to brilliant works by extraordinary composers, playing and touring professionally with outstanding artists, as well as improvising, have co-created her original voice. Her first work Flutes From the Other Side was published in 2008. Pam remains equally passionate about playing, writing, hearing (and performing) her compositions.
