Martin Kennedy (born March 24, 1978) is a pianist and composer of contemporary classical music.
Early life and education
[edit]Martin Kennedy was born in Wakefield, England to Barry and Ann Kennedy, and moved with them as a young child to the United States. He grew up in Pennsylvania and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he attended Central High School. As a youth, he played piano and composed pieces for the Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre, Theatre Tuscaloosa and the Frank M. Moody Concert Hall, winning national awards and recognition for his work.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and composition, as well as a Master of Music in composition, from the Jacobs School of Music. In 2005, he received his Doctorate in Music Composition from the Juilliard School where he studied as a C.V. Starr fellow under Milton Babbitt and Samuel Adler.[1][2]
Career
[edit]After receiving his doctorate, Kennedy became assistant professor of theory and composition at the Department of Music in Arts and Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.[1] He has written extensively for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments,[2] working with Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra music director Shin-ik Hahm and pianist Molly Morkoski.[1] In 2015, Kennedy was director of composition and theory at the music department of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington.[3][4]
Awards and recognition
[edit]Kennedy's awards include first prize in the '2 Agosto' International Composing Competition,[5] five ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards,[1][2] a BMI Young Composer Award, the 1999 Raymond Hubbel award,[6] the Indiana University Dean's Prize in composition in 1998 and 2002,[1] the 2010 ASCAP Rudolf Nissim Prize for Best Orchestral Work,[7] the Suzanne and Lee Ettleson Prize, an Aaron Copland Award, and residencies at the MacDowell[8] and Yaddo artist colonies. He was Composer-In-Residence for the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. His music is published by Theodore Presser Company[2][6] and G. Schirmer Inc.
Selected works
[edit]Orchestral works
[edit]- Drift (2021)
- Forest Dark and Stars Above (2018)
- Siren, blind (2016)
- Three Pieces for Orchestra (1999)
Concerti
[edit]- Pull Pin and Throw for trombone and orchestra (2021)
- Violin Concerto (2020)
- Sonata for violin and orchestra (John Corigliano, arr. Kennedy) (2012)
- Trivial Pursuits for violin and orchestra (2009)
- Piano Concerto (2008)
- Totentanz for violin and orchestra (Franz Liszt, arr. Kennedy and Lara St. John) (2007)[1]
- Flute Concerto (1999)
Chamber music
[edit]- Dry Falls for two guitars (2021)
- An Affirmation for chamber choir (2015)
- Distant Channels for bass trombone and percussion (2014)
- Czardashian Rhapsody (arr.) for violin and piano (2013)
- Desplazamiento for piccolo and piano (2013)[4]
- Trivial Pursuits for violin and piano (2009)
- Four Songs for flute and piano (1998)[9]
- These Parting Gifts for two violins and piano (1997)[2]
- Souvenir for flute and piano (1995)[1]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Cobb, Mark Hughes (May 10, 2008) "TSO to Perform Piece by Tuscaloosa Native, The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Otten, Liam (March 23, 2006) "Acclaimed Faculty Composer Martin Kennedy to Present Original Chamber Works April 9", The Source. Washington University in St. Louis. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ (January 29, 2015) "Symphony Announces Concerto Contest Winners", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Riner, Nicole (Spring 2014). "Desplazamiento - Martin Kennedy" (pdf). Flutist Quarterly (article). 39 (3): 85. ISSN 8756-8667. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "Martin Kennedy". Archived from the original on 2011-08-06. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ Martin Kennedy Receives $5,000 ASCAP Foundation Nissim Prize for "Trivial Pursuits" http://www.ascap.com/press/2010/0120_NISSIM.aspx
- ^ Martin, John (August 29, 2013) "Fellowships Reaching New Regions Bring Martin Kennedy, Other Artists to MacDowell", macdowell.org. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ (December 5, 2008) "FSU Department of Music Faculty Artist Series Presenting Recital", Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved January 25, 2024.