COMPOSERS
Conor Abbott Brown
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Conor Abbott Brown is a composer and clarinetist from Boulder, Colorado. His compositions often feature complex rhythms, colorful ornamentation, and a synthesis of eclectic musical ideas. Brown has had works commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, clarinet virtuoso David Krakauer, and many others. Brown has performed as the guest principal clarinetist of the American Symphony Orchestra. As part of the Carnegie Hall Professional Training Workshop Exploring Klezmer, Brown performed as a clarinetist and as a laptop artist. Brown's Wordless Music Series performance of Osvaldo Golijov's The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind was featured on New York City radio station WNYC. He has studied composition with Joan Tower, John Halle, Randy Woolf, Daniel Kellogg, and Michael Theodore, and clarinet with David Krakauer, Laura Flax, and Daniel Silver.
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Learn more about him here.
Alan Elkins
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Alan Elkins holds degrees in music composition from Bowling Green State University (M.M. 2009) and viola performance from Florida State University (B.M. 2007). He teaches courses in music theory, aural skills, and music technology. His composition teachers include Elainie Lillios, Burton Beerman, and Jim David.
His compositions have been performed throughout the eastern United States, including performances by the Atlanta Chamber Players, flautist Clark Barnes, the BGSU Steel Drum Ensemble, and the CROSS ISLAND trio. As a violist, he has performed with orchestras and professional ensembles in the southeast United States, and, as an active proponent of new music, has premiered several solo and chamber works. Alan Elkins currently serves on faculty at Lee University in Cleveland, TN.
Keith Harmel
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Keith Harmel is a native of Southern California. A recent graduate of Azusa Pacific University, with a Bachelor of Music in Composition, Keith plans to pursue graduate studies in composition as well as conducting. Although his main passion lies with choral music, he has an affinity for instrumental works and gains inspiration from composers such as Grieg, Ravel, Debussy, Liszt, and Bruckner. Keith hopes to write music that moves people regardless of their exposure to classical music. In his spare time, Keith enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and is an avid Tolkien enthusiast.
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Townsend Losey (b. 1990) communicates his deep love for the earth and all of its people through his life as a composer, conductor, poet, and entrepreneur. Although known by many for his work as a highly creative individual who spends much of his time exploring other worlds within his mind, Townsend avidly defines himself first and foremost as being genuinely human in relation and in purpose. For as great as his dedication and love for music may be, his desire to connect and tend to the hearts of people will always be far greater.
As one with such esteem for human experience, Townsend pours his personality and perspective into his music. His freedom of emotional expression is juxtaposed with his consciousness of sophistication and drive for excellence. This is apparent in much of his choral and instrumental writing, the development of which often requires thoughtful interpretation and a display of virtuosity. From the imaginative drama and quirkiness of Suspicions for solo piano to the intimacy and reflective sincerity of to the one who smiles for mixed choir, Townsend shares a vast range of experiences through his story-telling style of composition.
Townsend was born and raised in Napa Valley, California where he spent his early musical life improvising on the piano and composing for his high school choirs. He attended Azusa Pacific University in pursuit of a Bachelor of Music degree in composition under the tutelage of professors Philip Shackleton, Joel Clifft, Michelle Jensen, and Stephen Johnson. He currently lives in the greater Los Angeles area, where he serves as Director of Music Ministry at La Verne Heights Presbyterian Church, as well as Artistic Director of Ensoma Vocal Ensemble, which he founded in 2014.
Katie Mueller
Composer Katie Mueller has enjoyed several amazing collaborations and exciting premiers as a young composer. She holds a Bachelor’s in Music Composition from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Music Composition from the University of Colorado Boulder, having studied with Evan Chambers, Kristin Kuster, Erik Santos, Bright Sheng, Carter Pann, Kevin Beavers, Jeffrey Nytch and Daniel Kellogg. Her music has been performed across the United States and in Italy. She works for the University of Colorado as part of the Music, Arts & Culture Advancement team, in addition to composing music for premier by Colorado ensembles such as Chamber Ensemble con Grazia and The Eklund Opera Program’s CU NOW (new opera workshop).
Born in San Diego, California, Brooks grew up performing as a lead vocalist, pianist, and guitar player. He began arranging tunes and hymns for small bands and for a cappella choirs while learning more about conducting and leading small musical groups.
Brooks earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Azusa Pacific University, with an emphasis in “Commercial Composition and Arrangement.” During his time at the university, Brooks studied piano and composition under arranger and pianist, Mark Gasbarro, who played a role in exposing the Brooks to many other musical vocabularies.
With experience in writing for film and television, Brooks has orchestrated and arranged a television intro for the Trinity Broadcast Network. He has also composed for several student films.
Brooks currently resides in the Los Angeles area. He has interned and worked under J.A.C. Redford, a composer of many films and working orchestrator for Thomas Newman film scores, such as Skyfall.
Brooks is extensively pursuing composition, including scoring for film, television, video games, oratorios, musicals, ballets, and for various concert ensemble works.
Listen to his music here.
Andrew Selle is a Ph.D. candidate in music theory at Florida State University, where he is currently finishing his dissertation entitled Experiencing Sound: A Hybrid Approach to Electronic Music Analysis. Andrew is also a composer of acoustic and electronic music, and his research and compositions have been featured both nationally and internationally at venues such as the national conference of the Society for Electroacoustic Music in the United States, the International Computer Music Conference, Electroacoustic Barn Dance, the National Student Electronic Music Event, as well as conferences at the CUNY Graduate Center, Louisiana State University, the University of North Texas, and the University of Arizona, among others. Andrew’s primary research interests include the analysis of electronic music, music cognition and perception, and music theory pedagogy.
Elena Specht writes instrumental and vocal concert music with an emphasis on colorful textures and graceful lyricism. Her music is inspired by the grandeur of nature, thought-provoking questions, and compelling stories. Her work has received numerous performances, recently by the Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra and the Denver Pops Orchestra. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in composition from Vanderbilt University and the University of Colorado Boulder, respectively, and is currently pursuing a doctorate at Michigan State University.