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other COMPOSERS I highly recommend...
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The following is a partial list of composers whose work I have gotten to know, most in the
last few years. Quite a few are composers I've performed, premiered, or commissioned
works by either at Pocantico Hills School, Sleepy Hollow, NY, where I teach elementary and
middle school vocal music, or at Church of the Savior, Paramus, NJ, where I direct music
including the church choirs. None of these composers are big shots, but every one of them is
important! Please consider visiting their websites, listen and look at their music, and, if you're
in position to do so maybe even order or commission something! Expect something wonderful!
--WILLIAM VOLLINGER
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GREG BARTHOLOMEW is from the state of Washington. He's written some truly beautiful choruses from the "Odes of Solomon".
His work "The Twentieth Century (a Girl Born in Afghanistan)", with a text by Kofi Annan, was premiered at the College of William
and Mary with the Secretary-General himself in attendance. You can visit his website at http://members.aol.com/GBartWeb/
CHARLES O. BECK (COBI) is from Ohio, and has developed a unique personal voice in his composition. Highly recommended is
the CD collection of his "Kaleidoscopes", most of which are "equitonal", where each key is given equal value. the effect is lovely
and moving. You can get further information by contacting him at http://www.swan-cross.com/
JERRY CASEY is also from Ohio. She's written many choral works, including a gently gracious setting of "Take Time To Be Holy"
which my church choir loved singing. "Seven" (a suite for orchestra) and "Gli intrighi d'amore" (for woodwind quintet) are available
on CD from MMC recordings. A great place to find out about her music is her website http://www.jerrycaseymusic.com/
And WALLACE DE PUE is also from Ohio! He teaches composition at Bowling Green University, and is an expert and prolific
composer of every kind of music! "Something Special" is a delightful opera entirely for barbershop quartet! My school and church
will be doing music of his this year, including "Harry Wuzanelf". Visit (and order!) at http://mustec.bgsu.edu/~wallace
DONNA KELLY EASTMAN writes music both with charm and expertise. My elementary chorus recently performed three of
"Our Friends at the Animal Fair" with gusto. "Just Us", a work for mezzo-soprano and flute is available at Capstone Records,
as are other works. Visit her at http://www.sai-national.org/phil/composers/deastman.html
FRANK FELICE a former rock bass player, creates electroacoustic music that is simultaneously witty and moving. His CD
"Sidewalk Music" I have enjoyed many times over and is available (and can be heard) at Capstone Records. His fantasy ballet
"The Willow Maiden" is a recent premiere. His website is http://www.butler.edu/music/faculty/felice.html
MARK HIJLEH, president and founder of Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers, writes flashing dramatic atonal
music. "O Ignis Spiritus" won the N.A.T.S Vocal Composition Award in 2002. His insightful book "The Music of Jesus: From
Composition to Koinonea" is available at Amazon.com Visit: http://campus.houghton.edu/webs/employees/mhijleh/mhijleh.html
JAMES NATHANIEL HOLLAND is a fellow NJ-er, and founded Northern NJ Camarata. Predominantly an opera composer, he writes
attractive and lyrical music such as his dramatic opera "Germain" and the playful "Discontented Housewife". My fourth graders
enjoyed premiering his swayful Haitian style song "Allo!". Find out and listen at http://home.att.net/~tipwason/home.htm
LYNN JOB writes profoundly spiritual music, beautiful to listen to. Her "ELATIO, Praises and Prophecies" is a major oratorio,
with texts taken from the Dead Sea Scrolls. "Serengeti Supper" for alto sax and sound track is one of her many recently performed
pieces. (I'm happy to be one of Lynn's faith partners.) Visit her magnificent website at http://buckthornstudios.com/
FRANK LAROCCA lives In California where he teaches at California State University. In recent years, he has turned to tonality
with beautiful results. I listen to his music often. Two works very worth hearing are his breathtaking lyrical "Veni Sancte Spiritus",
and the serene "In This Place". You can do so by going to http://www.composersinc.org/flarocca.html (and from there to mp.3)
TONY K.T. LEUNG is a Canadian composer of intense and "crunchy" music. He has a background in both traditional Chinese
and Western contemporary music. Two works of note are the powerful "Seven Trumpets of the Seven Angels" and the
absolutely fascinating chamber work entitled "Six Degrees of Separation". Hear and learn at http://www.composer.net/
LARRY LOCKWOOD is a classmate from Manhattan School of Music who I've gotten to know again after 30 years. He has
rejected his early atonalism and creates music that 's simple and lovely. Hear his work at http://www.lockwoodmusic.com/
including the sweet "Tifillot". My middle school chorus is premiering his "Scent of Pine" this year.
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JONATHAN MILLER (not the famous one who won the Pulitzer Prize, but just as important) can write both "smooth" and
"crunchy" (i.e. "Chouchamayo"). I myself once published his "Love's Domain" (it sounds like what the title suggests) and
my school commissioned and performed his warm wonderful "Snowflake Angels". He doesn't have a website, so ask me!
JAN MITTELSTAEDT lives in Portland, Oregon, where she is both an educator and composer. She has written much music for
young pianists, as well as sacred Choral music. Her music, like herself, is genuine and worthwhile. My church choir performed
her "Rejoice in the Lord" not too long ago, and were excited and happy to do so. Visit her website at http://www.sintsink.com/
SCOTT ROBINSON is the founder of, composer for, and performer in the middle eastern/contemporary ensemble Gypsophilia.
His music is remarkable and draws on many sources for its powerful (and entertaining) effect. You can hear (and order) the
band's beautiful CDs by going to http://www.gypsophilia.com or visit Scott at http://www.gypsophilia.com/TheBand/Scott.html
GREG SCHEER listens to rock music in his car, but he writes beautiful choir anthems such as "Bread of the World" (my choir
sang it Maundy Thursday) and "As the Deer". He also writes worship choruses, and goes electronic in the shimmering shifting
"Crossfade", available on the CD "...from everlasting to everlasting..." at CFAMC. Or visit him and order at http://gregscheer.com/
IRA-PAUL SCHWARZ now lives in England. He's a composer and a gentleman,and written every kind of music expertly, including
works for James Galway. My first (!) graders premiered his ringing "Christmas Ev'ry Day" and loved it. So did the audience. And
I love his "Five Cats and a Porcupine". Please visit his webpage at http://www.amc.net/member/Ira_Paul_Schwarz/home.html
ELIZABETH SYDOR from Brick, NJ is both poet and composer. Her work ranges from the way-out ("Double Think") to the way in
("Fantasia for Orchestra") Much of her work is for dance theater. We've done her lovely "Prayer of St Theresa" and her ultra-joyful
"Celebration for Ephiphany" with great success in my church. There's no website for Elizabeth, so contact me instead.
DICK THOMPSON lives a mile from me and has been an enormous help for my teaching and composing. Dick writes in a jazz-
classical style. He's an expert at all he does. We've performed many of his pieces in school and church: "Parents","Sacajawea",
"Johnny Shiloh" are singable and great, with wonderful texts by Kim Rich. What talent! Visit at http://www.blueheartsong.com/
RAYMOND WOJCIK is a fellow (but younger) graduate of Manhattan School of Music and another NJ-er. He's known as conductor,
commentator and composer, particularly of orchestral music. His work is emotionally-charged & full of color. "Akin to Fire" is a
moving piece which quotes a favorite of mine: Beethoven's 15th String Quartet Adagio. Go to http://www.cortelu.com/wojcik.htm
MARK ZUCKERMAN is only last alphabetically. His music is heartfelt, well-constructed & oftentimes octagonic, e.g."Out of
the Wilderness" for string orchestra. Much of Mark's work was for the Yiddish Chorale, which he founded. I have the distinct honor
of sharing a CD with his spirited "Proverbs for Four at Fifty". Find out "who is this guy anyway" at http://www.mazicmusic.com
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