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bio: (click to show/hide)
Jamie Keesecker (b. 1981) is a composer of new music who writes for a variety of musical ensembles ranging from small instrumental chamber groups to large symphonic ensembles.
His music has been featured in a variety of new music venues including the Oregon Vanguard Series, the Oregon Bach Festival, and the 2005 International Trumpet Guild conference in Bangkok, Thailand. He has received stellar performances from talented artists such as NYC's Percussia, So Percussion, trumpeter Jonathon Clarke of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Eugene Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, the ITCH Ensemble, and the Oregon Bach Festival's American Creators Ensemble. Recently, the California based horn quartet QUADRE: The Voice of Four Horns recorded a composition of his to be featured on their new, soon to be released album. Additionally, Jamie has participated in reading sessions with NYC's Fireworks Ensemble and Soprano Laurie Monahan, director and co-founder of the famed vocal group Tapestry.
Jamie currently resides in Durham, North Carolina, where he is a James B. Duke Fellow pursuing a Ph.D. at Duke University, studying with composer Scott Lindroth. He holds a Master's of Music Degree in composition from the University of Oregon (2009) where he studied with composers David Crumb and Robert Kyr, and a B.Mus in composition from the University of Arizona (2006) where he studied with Daniel Asia, Pamela Decker, and Craig Walsh. In 2008 he had the pleasure of working with composers Robert Livingston Aldridge and Kevin Puts at the Brevard Music Center, where he also served as the coordinator of the festival's new music ensemble. In recent years he has participated in master classes and workshops with composers Martin Bresnick, Veljo Tormis, Roberto Sierra, Chinary Ung, pianist Lisa Moore, and conductor Hirvo Surva, among others.
Jamie is also a hornist who enjoys performing new music whenever possible. His current interests include theoretical and analytical methodologies that deal with music that lies between the traditionally defined tonal/atonal boundaries, especially the writings on scale theory by John Clough, Richard Cohn, and Jack Douthett. And, as always, he can't stop listening to Bill Evans.
news:
December 21, 2010 -
Hello, devoted friends, and happy winter. An unusually demanding semester has meant that I haven't updated in quite some time, but the first day of winter is as good as any to do so. I received a fantastic performance of my piece, One-Minute Recipes: COLLECT ALL SIX! by the Atlanta Chamber Players at their October concert in the Walter Hill Auditorium at the High Museum of Art, but unfortunately did not advance to the next round of the Rapido! Composition Contest. However, that doesn't mean the fun is over. You can now vote for an internet favorite in the national competition. And check out this review of the October concert from ArtsCriticATL.com.
August 13, 2010 -
Rapido! Composition Contest
I'm a finalist! I was very pleased to find out that my submission to the Rapido! Composition Contest secured me a place as a finalist in the Southeastern region. That means I will have my piece, One-Minute Recipes: Collect All Six!, performed by the Atlanta Chamber Players on October 17th in Atlanta, Georgia. I am very much looking forward to working with such an accomplished group, as well as having the chance to meet the other finalists from my region and hear their pieces. Congrats and best of luck to all of the finalists!
July 29th and 30th, 2010 -
Monadnock Music Festival, New Hampshire
(Click on image to access the festival's website)
As the recipient of Monadnock Music's 2010 Young Composer Fellowship, I will be in residence for two performances of two new works that will be premiered at the festival in the beautiful Monadnock Region of New Hampshire, including a two-movement piece called Fashionable Chamber Events for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola and Harp, as well as a new setting of Bertha Rogers's poem Three for Summer's End for Mezzo-Soprano and String Trio to be performed by acclaimed vocalist and Yale School of Music faculty member Janna Baty as part of the festival's "Music for the Mountain" project.
The two concerts will be held in Harrisville and Sullivan, New Hampshire, respectively. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with these amazing artists, and to see some great performances while I'm there. For more information about the festival and the "Music for the Mountain" project, check out this feature from the New Hampshire Union Leader. For more information about Bertha Rogers and her work, visit her website or check out this write-up at the Art & Soul of the Catskills blog (Scroll down about a quarter of the page).
Update:
I have just returned from New Hampshire, and I am deeply indebted to the festival artists for the incredible performances they gave my works. Due to an unforeseen set of circumstances, Janna Baty's appearance at the festival was cancelled, so Three for Summer's End was not performed in its entirety. Thankfully, reknowned Mezzo Soprano Krista River was able to step in and offer an amazingly beautiful performance of the third song in the set for the July 30th concert in Sullivan. It is a deeply touching experience to have such refined musicians lend their artistry to my work. Many thanks to Ms. River and all of the festival artists.
April 5, 2010 -
Duke University Department of Music presents a Graduate Composers Concert featuring the Amalgam Brass Ensemble in the premiere performance of my recent Con Fuoco for Brass Quintet. Nelson Music Room on Duke University's east campus.
March 6th and 10th, 2010 -
Sospiro in concert.
(Click on image for more info)
The amazing new-music vocal ensemble Sospiro, under the direction of Christopher S. Prosser presents the premiere performances of my last piece from 2009 at the West Coast Conference of Music Theory and Analysis, The Star Sirius, for SATB Choir and Piano. Under the baton of conductor Kathryn Longo, Sospiro presents an additional performance on their own concert in Beall Hall, Eugene, Oregon. Should be a fun concert with lots of new music.
March 7, 2010 -
Pianist Kathryn Christensen in concert at the Dove of Peace Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona.
 (Click on image for more info)
Performing the world premiere As Afternoon Fades, my contribution to Desert Miniatures for Piano, a collaborative composition project consisting of short minatures by five composers with some sort of connection to Tucson. Also featuring lots of other great music. Who is Carl Vine? Who knows, but his Piano Sonata is epic.
February 18, 2010 -
Duke Wind Symphony under the direction of Verena Moesenbichler-Bryant. Baldwin Auditorium, Duke University.
Featuring the premiere of Polymodal Transportation for Wind Ensemble. Also featuring awesome pieces by Steven Bryant and George Lam (among others). Thank you to the Duke Wind Symphony and Dr. Moesenbichler-Bryant for an awesome performance!
February 4, 2010 -
Duke New Music Ensemble [dnme]. Biddle Music Building, Duke University.
[dnme] presents the premiere New Baroque-ish Miniatures for Flute and Violin. Kudos to Heidi Wait and Sarah Griffin for playing the pants off of this piece! I'm sorry for cursing, but it's the only way to express how great this performance was.
October 10, 2009 -
Percussia with Soprano Melissa Fogarty. Queens Public Library - Jackson Heights Branch, Queens, NY
(Click on image to view full size)
Featuring the premiere of Colored Hats for Soprano, Flute, Viola, Harp, Marimba and Temple Bowls based on the poetry of Gertrude Stein. Also featuring works by Scott J. Ordway, David Roberts, Dennis Tobenski and others. (Thanks, Queens Council on the Arts!)
September 3, 2009 -
Filmusik has posted a video excerpt and some photos from the July 17 showing/performance of Death Rides A Horse at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR featuring J. Keesecker in his electric guitar debut performance.
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