Curriculum Vitae

Education

• Ph.D. in Composition, May 2005: University of Minnesota. Principal instructors: Alex Lubet (adviser), Judith Zaimont.
• M.A. in Composition (minor in Theatre Arts), 2002: University of Minnesota.
• B.A. in Music (Theory & Composition), 1988: Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA. Adviser: Jon Chenette.
• Institute for European Studies, Vienna, Austria, 1986-87.

Awards and Distinctions

• ASCAPlus Award Recipient for 2006-07 and 2007-08.
• Finalist in the Frank Ticheli Composition Contest sponsored by Manhattan Beach Music (Category 2, Young Concert Band), for Maiden Voyage, 2006.
• Doctoral Dissertation Fellow, University of Minnesota, 2004-05. Dissertation project: Visages: A Song Cycle for Mezzo-Soprano and Orchestra, with cross-cultural themes connecting China and America.
• Winner of the University of Minnesota School of Music's Call for Scores Competition, for "Tibetan Girl" (mezzo/orchestra; from Visages), 2005.
• Composer/Conductor Participant at Symposium 30 for New Band Music, for Theme and Deviations for Band. College Band Directors National Association (Virginia Chapter), Richmond, VA, 2005.
• Composer Participant at the Society of Composers Region VI Conference, for Theme and Deviations for Band, San Antonio, TX, 2005.
• Winner of the Fifth Annual H. Robert Reynolds Composer's Competition, 2004, for Theme and Deviations for Band. New York premiere at Carnegie Hall by the National Wind Ensemble, May 30, 2004.

Residencies & Educational Outreach

Guest Composer/Conductor at the Minnesota River Valley Wind Ensemble fall concerts, for Theme and Deviations for Band, Mankato, MN Fall 2010

• Presenter at the 2010 Century College Campus Conference, for "Visages: Tale of a Journey", and "The Music of Cabaret", April 2010
• Resident Composer at Cottage Grove Middle School, Cottage Grove, MN, for Forge Ahead!, 2009-10
• Resident Composer/Conductor at California State University-Bakersfield, for Theme and Deviations for Band (rehearsed and conducted the ensemble; gave master classes, seminars, and public talks), June 2009

• Co-Presenter at the 2008 Century College Campus Conference, for the presentation "Revolution: The Soundtrack!", April 2008

• Resident Composer/Conductor for the Mankato Wind Ensemble (MSU-Mankato) at the MMEA Midwinter Clinic (Mpls, MN) and the MSU-Mankato Band Concert (Mankato, MN), 2008
• Composer-in-Residence, Roosevelt High School Concert Band, Minneapolis, MN, 2008-09.
• Music Resource Specialist (Consultant, Composer/Arranger, Pianist), World Culture Magnet School, St. Paul, MN, 2007
  • "On Stage" production: Music of the Americas
• Guest Speaker at Minnehaha Academy, Mpls, MN, 2007
  • Music in Theatre: Telling the Story
• Clinician at MMEA Mid-winter Conference, Mpls, MN, 2006
  • Co-presenter: Using the Book Creatively II: Music, Literacy and the Arts

Commissions

• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, incidental music score to the adaptation of the book by Grace Lin. Script by Jeanine Coulombe. Stages Theatre, April 2012. (in progress)
• Llama, Llama, Red Pajama, musical adaptation of the book by Anna Dewdney. Libretto by Jennifer Kirkeby. Stages Theatre, January 2012. (in progress)
• Six Scriabin Preludes, orchestral arrangement of piano preludes by Alexander Scriabin. Century Chamber Orchestra, Century College, March 2011.
• If You Give a Moose a Muffin, musical adaptation of the book by Laura Numeroff (illustrations by Felicia Bond). Libretto by Jennifer Kirkeby. Stages Theatre, January 2011.
• Forge Ahead!, for intermediate concert band. Commissioned by Cottage Grove Middle School, MN, November 2009.
• Twas the Night Before Christmas, musical adaptation of the poem by Clement C. Moore. Libretto by Jennifer Kirkeby. Stages Theatre, November 2009.
• Song of the Wind, for intermediate concert band. Commissioned by Roosevelt High School, MN, May 2009.
• Robert Munsch 's "The Paper Bag Princess ", musical adaptation of the book. Libretto by Jennifer Kirkeby. Stages Theatre, April 2009.
• Jan Brett's "The Mitten", musical adaptation of the book. Libretto by Jennifer Kirkeby. Stages Theatre, Jan. 2008.
• Mashed Monsters, book/lyrics by Christina Akers. Minnesota Fringe Festival, Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 2007.
• Strange Attractor, electro-acoustic ballet exploring chaos theory. The Dance Institute (formerly Ballet Arts Minnesota), April 2007.
• Nancy Carlson's "Harriet and Walt", musical adaptation of the children's book. Book/lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby. Stages Theatre, Hopkins, MN, Jan. 2007.
• Stages Theatre's "A Christmas Carol", musical adaptation of the Dickens novel. Book/lyrics by Buffy Sedlachek. Stages Theatre, Hopkins, MN, Nov. 2006.
• Madeline's Christmas, musical adaptation of the children's book. Book/lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby. Stages Theatre, Hopkins MN, 2004.
• Soulless, Bloodsucking Lawyers: A (Brief) Musical!, 2003. Co-composed with playwright Toni Halleen. Highest Attended Show at the 2003 Minnesota Fringe Festival, and voted Audience Pick for Best Musical.
• Theme and Deviations for Band, Seward Concert Band, Minneapolis, 2003.
• Twelfth Night (text settings), Shakespeare in the Park, Twin Cities, 2003.
• When You Get a Minute, theme for Kevin Pearson film, Minneapolis, 2002.
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff, musical adaptation of the fairy tale. Book/lyrics by Mark Rosenwinkel. Stages Theatre, 2002.

Publications

• Song of the Wind: An Aztec Legend, Grade 2.5 Concert Band, Alfred Music, 2011
• Maiden Voyage, Grade 3 Concert Band, Grand Mesa Music Publishing, 2010
• Nancy Carlson's "Harriet and Walt", children's musical, Baker's Plays (a division of Samuel French, Inc.), 2010
• Madeline's Christmas, children's musical, Dramatic Publishing, 2005

    Educational piano duets published by Alfred Music:

• Western Trail, 2004
• Royal Pavane, 2001
• Four-Leaf Clover, 2000
• Journey Home, 2000
• Follow the Piper!, 2000 (National Federation Selection, 2004-06)

Other Compositions: Concert Music

• Orchestra with Voice
  Visages (texts: Diana Fu), mezzo/orchestra (18'), 2005
  • "Tibetan Girl" (6'30")
  • "Luguhu's Calling" (3')
  • "Beijing Hutongs" (8')
• Jazz
  • Spanky the Llama Blues (jazz combo, jazz band), 2005
  • When You Get a Minute, theme for cable television film, 2002
• Chamber
  • Invention for String Trio (5'), U of M, 2001
  • Album Leaves, brass quintet (3'), U of M, 2001
  • Mini-Suite for Oboe and Bassoon (5'), U of M, 2000
• Chamber Miniatures
  • A Light Breeze (1'), percussion solo, 2007
  • Express Lane (100 items or fewer) (1'), percussion ensemble, 2007
  • Blink: a string quartet in 100 notes (1'), 2007
• Vocal/Choral
  
  • Visages (texts: Diana Fu), mezzo/orchestra (18'), 2005
    • "Tibetan Girl" (6'30")
    • "Luguhu's Calling" (3')
    • "Beijing Hutongs" (8')
  • One Hundred Years (text: Shirley Mier/Chuck Leonard), chorus/piano (3'), Silver Bay Association, NY, 2002
  • The Buck in the Snow (Edna St. Vincent-Millay), mezzo/piano (4'), U of M, 2001
  • Herbst (Autumn) (text: Rainer Maria Rilke), SSAA (2'), 2000
• Electronic/Multimedia
  • Trailer of Terror!, 2001 (Quicktime film and soundtrack)
  • Fender Bender (MN Public Radio Button), 2001
  • Passacaglia (MN Public Radio Button), 2001

Other Compositions: Theatre and Dance

• Alexander at Delphi, Center for Independent Artists, 2002 (M.A. Thesis: one-act musical drama based on Alexander the Great; book/lyrics by Minrod Mier)
• The Bitter Festie Play, Minnesota Association of Community Theatres (MACT) One-Act Play Festival, 2001 (Incidental music)
• Heart of the Faerie Queen, Minnesota Fringe Festival, 2000 (One-act fantasy/morality play with music; book by Minrod Mier)
• The Skid Row Kids Save Christmas, Far From the Tree Productions, Minneapolis, 1999 (Holiday show in musical theatre idiom; book/lyrics by Minrod Mier)
• A Cup of Kindness, MACT One-Act Play Festival, 1999 (Incidental music)
• An Old-Fashioned Christmas, Grand Theatre, Stillwater, MN, 1996 (Title song)
• Messiah, Genesis Theatre, Minneapolis, 1989 (Incidental music)
• The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA, 1988

Compositions: Pedagogical

Educational piano duets published by Alfred Music:

• Western Trail, 2004
• Royal Pavane, 2001
• Four-Leaf Clover, 2000
• Journey Home, 2000
• Follow the Piper!, 2000 (National Federation Selection, 2004-06)

Teaching Experience: Higher Education

 

Century College, White Bear Lake, MN

• Instructor of Music, Fall 2007 - present
• Courses taught:

-Music Theory I

-Ear Training I

-Music Theory II

-Ear Training II

-Enjoyment of Classical Music

-Music Fundamentals

-Popular Music in American Society

• Conductor of the Century College Chamber Orchestra, 2007-08

University of Wisconsin, River Falls

• Lecturer in Music, Spring 2006 (temporary appointment)
  
• Courses taught:

-Music Theory & Ear-Training II

University of Minnesota

• Teaching Assistant, Fall 2000 - Spring 2004
• Courses taught:
• -Foundations in Music Theory: Analysis and Ear Training I and II
• -Foundations in Music Theory: Analysis and Ear Training III and IV
  • Special duties
• Creating lesson plans
• Teaching music technology seminars
• Teaching review seminars in part-writing and ear training grading assignments
• Proctoring individual sight-singing and keyboard skills tests
• Instructor of Record, Summer 2001
• Courses taught:
• -Foundations in Music Theory: Analysis and Ear Training II
• • Special duties
• Creating and implementing the syllabus
• Creating lesson plans
• Writing exams, quizzes, and other project assignments
• Teaching part-writing and ear training
• Proctoring individual sight-singing and keyboard skills tests
• All lecture and grading duties

• Lab Monitor, Computer Music Lab, 2004
• Music Theory Tutor, 2nd-year theory, 2004-05

Main Street School of Performing Arts (Stages Theatre)

• Consultant for the proposed music theory curriculum at the new Main Street School of Performing Arts, Hopkins, Minnesota, 2003-04

Grinnell College

• Grading Assistant for Harmony classes, 1987-88
• Instructor for the ear-training lab portion of Harmony 101, 1985-86

Teaching Experience: Performance Education

Piano, Voice and Composition Teacher:

• Private instruction in composition and piano, 2007-present
• Chenoweth Music Studio, Roseville, 1996-2000
• Chaska School of Music, 1995-98

Member of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association, 1997-2001 (Served on the Theory Committee)

Teaching Experience: Theatre Education

Music Director and Pianist

• • Escalate Dance & Theatre Studio's Musical Theatre Workshops, 2005
  • Stages Theatre's Teenage Intensive Workshop, 2009
  • Stages Theatre's Junior Conservatory Workshops, 2005, 2007-08
  • Stages Theatre's Musical Theatre Workshops, 2001-06, 2009
    Selected and taught music to be performed; wrote sketches; accompanied performances.
  • Steppingstone's Musical Theatre Extravaganza! Workshops
    • Broadway Bound!, 2004
    • Bye Bye Birdie, 2003
    • Into the Woods (one-hour version), 2002
• Composer/Lyricist and Pianist
  Steppingstone's Step on Stage Workshops, 2001-05

Theatre Workshop Instructor, Stages Theatre:

• A Little Princess, 2001
• Free to Be, You and Me, 2001

Improvisational Theatre Pianist, Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota, FL, 1993

• Performed as accompanist in The Hero's Journey, an educational touring production for elementary school students.
• Taught playwriting workshops as part of FST's "Write a Play" program.
• Assisted in the development of new musicals to be produced at the theatre.

Music Directing Experience

Educational Theatre

• Resident Artist at Stages Theatre, 2002-present
  (Composer, Music Director, Conductor, and/or Soundtrack Sequencer)
  Music Director for 20+ productions, including:
  • You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Stages Theatre, 2008
    
• Honk!, Stages Theatre, 2007
• A Christmas Carol, Stages Theatre, 2006
• Seussical, Stages Theatre, 2006
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Steppingstone Theatre, 2005
• Charlotte's Web, Stages Theatre, 2005
• The Emperor's New Clothes, Steppingstone Theatre, 2005
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Stages Theatre, 2003
• Wizard of Oz, FAIR Middle School, Crystal, MN, 2003
• Three Billy Goats Gruff, Stages Theatre, 2002

Community Theatre

• 50+ productions, including:
  • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Morris Park Players, 2006
  • Jesus Christ Superstar, Morris Park Players, 2003
  • West Side Story, Morris Park Players, 2000
  • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Morris Park Players, 1999
  • Little Shop of Horrors, Morris Park Players, 1998
  • Oliver!, Masquers Theatre, 1998
  • Once Upon a Mattress, Morris Park Players, 1996
  • The Secret Garden, Lakeshore Players, 1996
  • Hello, Dolly!, Masquers Theatre, 1995
  • Gypsy, Lakeshore Players, 1994
  • Amahl and the Night Visitors, Masquers Theatre, 1993
  • Cabaret, Lakeshore Players, 1993
  • Of Thee I Sing, Lakeshore Players, 1992
  • Godspell, Masquers Theatre, 1992
  • Jesus Christ Superstar, St. Louis Park Players, 1992
  • Cabaret, St. Louis Park Players, 1991
  • Fiddler on the Roof, Masquers Theatre, 1991
  • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Morris Park Players, 1991
  • South Pacific, Morris Park Players, 1990
  • My Fair Lady, Masquers Theatre, 1990
  • Tintypes, Lakeshore Players, 1990
  • Oklahoma!, Community Theatre of Burnsville, 1990
  • The Fantasticks, Follow Me Players, 1989
  • Annie Get Your Gun!, Masquers Theatre, 1989
  • Man of La Mancha, Genesis Theatre, 1988

Additional Performing Experience

• Pianist/Actor: 100 Years of Rotary, Great American History Theatre, 2005
• Pianist: Dakota Valley Summer Pops Orchestra, 2001-02, 2004
• Substitute Conductor: Dakota Valley Summer Pops Orchestra, 2004-05
• Substitute Pianist: Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church, 2000-03
• Improvisational Theatre Pianist: Stevie Ray's Comedy Troupe, 1994-98
  • Composed and arranged music for improvisational sketches.
  • Created musical improvisation structures and assisted with sketch preparation.
• Co-Director and Pianist: Forgotten Broadway, a revue of little-known Broadway songs, 1996
• Accompanist: Nostalgia, women's vocal trio, 1995-98

Applied Music Study

• Piano Instruction:
  • John Jensen, Minneapolis
  • Gerold Heitz, Vienna, Austria
  • Barb Lien, Grinnell College
• Voice Instruction: Ann Frederickson, Minneapolis
• Conducting lessons: Stephen J. Ramsey, Minneapolis

Professional Development/Enrichment

• Midwinter Band Clinic, Chicago, IL, Dec. 2008
• MMEA Midwinter Clinic, Minneapolis MN, Feb. 2008
• Society of Composers Region VI Conference, San Antonio, TX, Feb. 2005
• Master Classes with Aaron Jay Kernis, Libby Larsen, Stephen Paulus, George Tsontakis
• Seminar and Workshop Participation:
• • Century College Teaching Circle: Wellness in the Classroom, Century College, Spring 2008 (semester-long project)
  • Active Learning: Techniques to Engage Students, Century College, 2007
  • Grand Rights: Taking the Mystery Out of Licensing Music for Dance & Theater, 2007
  • Music in Motion, workshops for Composers and Choreographers (American Composers Forum), 2005-06
  • Publishing for Composers (American Composers Forum), 2005
  • Preparing Future Faculty Retreat (U of M), 2004
  • Preparing for Music Teaching in Higher Education (U of M), 2004
  • New Music Forum (Muziko Nova: St . Olaf College), 2004
  • Business Basics for Composers (American Music Center), 2001
  • Composer participant at the American Composers Forum Tuesday Salon concerts, St. Paul, MN

Professional Affiliations

• American Composers Forum
• ASCAP
• Minnesota State College Faculty Union
• College Music Society
• Society of Composers, Inc.
• Composers Alliance, University of Minnesota (Treasurer), 2002-05

References

Alex Lubet, Ph.D, Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Judith Zaimont, Professor of Composition Emerita, University of Minnesota

Dr. Michael Cherlin, Professor of Theory, University of Minnesota

Dr. David Damschroder, Associate Professor of Theory, University of Minnesota

Dr. Matt Bribitzer-Stull, Asst. Professor of Theory, University of Minnesota

Dr. Martin Gwinup, Associate Professor/Sound Designer, University of Minnesota - Theatre Arts Dance

J. Michael Roy, Professor of Music (Theory, Composition, Orchestration), University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Elliot Wilcox, Century College

Bonnie Schock, Director & Interdisciplinary Arts Instructor, Goddard College, VT

Sandy Boren-Barrett, Artistic Director, Stages Theatre Company

Jennifer Kirkeby, Resident Artist, Stages Theatre Company

Ann Marie Omeish, Director, Escalate Dance and Theatre Studio

(Contact information available upon request.)