donaldjstewart
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biography

Music is made as life itself, it breathes and pulses with energy. Comprised of rhythmic and harmonic "cells", each independent of the other, like the colors of isorhythms. Ever-replicating-partially and fully—slowly mutating, evolving-creating ever-larger cells of gesture and phrase, which eventually bear new forms. Articulations and orchestrations interpolating patterns of pitch and rhythm born as the infinite diversity of being...Success relies on the fragile balance of Composer-Listener-Nature... for this truly transcends the pure physicality of sound waves and life becomes the music itself.

...born in Seattle on June 6, 1970. grew up on the Salish-Kootenai reservation in Arlee...

...attended Gonzaga University, majored in both music composition and broadcast studies, studying composition under J. Kevin Waters, S.J.

..studied with Allen Sapp at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, then at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena under Franco Donatoni and at the Gruppo Aperto Musicale Oggi in Florence under Sylvano Bussotti.

...currently working on a multimedia chamber opera titled PERPETUA, made possible by a grant from the King County Cultural Commission, commissions from the groups Quasar and Aventa, and a collaboration with Magnus Andersson, Rohan de Saram and Pascal Gallois.

experience
  • Vice President, Board of Directors, Washington Composers Forum (9/10-present).

    Create and prepare minutes for monthly board meetings, assist in developing and presenting contemporary music in the State of Washington.

  • Guest Lecturer, Evergreen State College-Tacoma Campus, Tacoma, Washington (2012-present).

    Lectures to students pertaining to contemporary music techniques and analysis of my own music.

  • Guest Lecturer, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, Washington (2003-present).

    Lectures to students in the music and humanities departments pertaining to 'Music since 1950', 'Analysis of New Music' and techniques and analysis of my own music.

  • Music Teacher, Bellevue School of Music, Bellevue, WA (5/03-present).

    Instruct students in composition, theory and piano performance.

  • Secretary, Board of Directors, Washington Composers Forum (6/08-9/10).

    Create and prepare minutes for monthly board meetings, assist in developing and presenting contemporary music in the State of Washington.

  • Adjudicator, Washington State Music Teachers Association, (9/08).

    Review, comment upon and rank original scores for the 2008-09 WSMTA Composition Competition.

  • Member, Board of Directors, Washington Composers Forum (5/07-6/08).

    Assist in developing and presenting contemporary music in the State of Washington.

  • Guest Presenter, BC Composers Workshop, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC (9/06).

    Presented techniques and analysis of my own music to BC composers.

  • Featured Composer, Washington Composers Forum Composer Spotlight, Jack Straw Productions, Seattle, WA (8/06).

    Presented performance of PERPETUA excerpt and CONVOLVE.3 including techniques and analysis to Seattle public.

  • Composer in Residence, Northwest Symphony Orchestra (NWSO), Seattle, Washington (2003-05).

    Featured composer, creating 4 pieces for the orchestra in conjunction with leading workshops and giving lectures on contemporary music in local schools, community groups and concerts.

  • Guest Lecturer, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington (5/04, 5/01, 5/00, 5/99).

    Lectures to students pertaining to 'Music since 1950', 'Analysis of New Music' and techniques and analysis of my own music.

  • Workshop Facilitator--Group Composition Project, Pacific Middle School, (3/04-5/04).

    Develop and present group composition workshop for wind ensemble, incorporating students' ideas while presenting techniques and elements of compositional process culminating in performance of work.

  • Touring Arts Roster Juror, King County Arts Commission, Bellevue, Washington (5/01).

    Classical music Juror for the auditioning of the touring arts roster talent.

  • Music Director, Ballet Bellevue, Bellevue, Washington (5/98, 10/97).

    Music Director for the preparation, rehearsal, recording and performance of the ballets ORPHEE and FEATHERTOP.

  • Workshop Facilitator, Eton School (K-8), International School (9-12), Kamiakin Junior High School (7-9), (9/97-6/98).

    Develop and present interactive music workshops for students, incorporating composition, drama, choreography and performance.

  • Music Arranger, Crossroads Community Theater, Bellevue, Washington (4/98).

    Arrangement and Recording of music for The Wizard of Oz.

  • Music Director, University of Cincinnati College--Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, OH (9/93 to 6/95).

    Created and served as music director for the liturgical drama MYSTERIUM.

  • Graduate Composition Assistant, University of Cincinnati College--Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, OH (9/93 to 6/95).

    Instructed graduate and undergraduate students in composition.

  • Liturgical Music Minister, Bishop White Seminary, Spokane, Washington (9/91 to 6/93).

    Accompanied and led congregation in weekly services.

  • Music Director, Gonzaga University Theater Department, Spokane, Washington (9/88 to 6/93).

    Created, rehearsed and performed original music for production of The Little Mermaid.

education
  • University of Cincinnati College--Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio (9/93 to 12/96).

    Masters of Music degree in Composition.

  • Fondazione Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena, Italy (6/95 to 9/95).

    Attestato di Frequenza (Diploma), Allievo Effettivo nel Corso di Perfezionamento in Composizione (Course of Perfection in Composition) under Maestro Franco Donatoni.

  • Gruppo Aperto Musica Oggi (Group Open to the Music of Today), Florence, Italy (9/95).

    Diploma, Corsi di Perfezionamento sulla Musica del Novecento in Composizione (Course of Perfection on the Music of the 1990's) under Maestro Sylvano Bussotti.

  • Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington (9/88 to 6/93).

    Bachelor of Arts with two majors: Music Composition and Broadcast Studies.

honors, awards, commissions
  • Commissioned for a chamber work crociFISSIONe, Aventa Ensemble (5/13).
  • Commissioned for a chamber work TRASFIGURAZIONE, Magnus Andersson, Pascal Gallois, Rohan de Saram (5/10).
  • Commissioned for a saxophone quartet ...su innocent X..., Quasar (4/10).
  • Commissioned for a flute cadenza os jústi, Richard Craig (9/08).
  • ASCAPLUS Award Recipient, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (1998-2012)
  • Selected by Washington Composers Forum as featured composer for Composer Spotlight at Jack Straw Productions (8/06).
  • LECTIO DIVINA, selected for submission to ISCM World New Music Days 2006 (6/05).
  • Commissioned for the composition project at Pacific Middle School for a piece for multiple ensemblesPARTITA, Northwest Symphony Orchestra (9/03).
  • Commissioned for the orchestral work LECTIO DIVINA, Northwest Symphony Orchestra (9/03).
  • Commissioned for the opera PERPETUA, King County Arts Commission (7/99).
  • Commissioned for the ballet score FEATHERTOP, Ballet Bellevue (1/98).
  • Commissioned for the organ and percussion score mordecaiAWAKE, Cathedral of St. James (3/98).
  • Commissioned for the ballet score ORPHEE, Ballet Bellevue (7/97).
  • University Graduate Scholarship, University of Cincinnati (9/93- 6/95, 6/96).
  • Commissioned for the choral pieces O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM and HODIE CHRISTUS, (12/95).
  • Borsa di Studio (Full Scholarship plus stipend), Accademia Chigiana (6/95).
  • First Prize Composition Contest for choral and organ piece For the Lord is Good, American Guild of Organists (5/93).
  • Commissioned for the musical The Little Mermaid, Gonzaga University Theater Guild (12/92).
  • First Prize Composition Contest for the organ piece Soli Deo Gloria, American Guild of Organists (5/92).
  • Dean's List, Gonzaga University (Spring 1991, Fall 1991).
  • Raymond Hubbell Scholarship, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Academic year 1991-92).
  • Music Scholarship, Gonzaga University (9/88 through 6/93).
  • Academic Scholarship, Gonzaga University (9/88 through 6/93).