|
Dr. Gwyneth Walker (b. 1947) is a graduate of
Brown University and the Hartt School of Music. She holds B.A., M.M. and
D.M.A. Degrees in Music Composition. A former faculty member of the Oberlin
College Conservatory, she resigned from academic employment in 1982 in order
to pursue a career as a full-time composer. She now lives on a dairy farm in
Braintree, Vermont. Gwyneth Walker is a proud resident of Vermont. She is the recipient of the Year 2000 "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Vermont Arts Council.Walker's catalog includes over 130 commissioned works for orchestra, band, chorus and chamber ensembles. The music of Gwyneth Walker is published by E.C. Schirmer of Boston (choral/vocal music) and MMB Music of St. Louis (orchestral/instrumental music). Recent works demonstrate the composer's interest in combining theatrical elements with musical composition. For example, Letters to the World, a piano quartet, incorporates readings from the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Acquaintance With Nature, for chorus, clarinet, piano and narrator, weaves music around the writings of Henry David Thoreau. The Magic Oboe, an oboe concerto, transforms the conductor into a magician, and the oboe soloist into the magician's assistant for performing magic tricks on stage, with orchestral accompaniment. And, Climbing to Heaven, a 30-minute staged work based on writings of Thomas Merton, combines readings, chamber music and a cast of actors portraying 4th-century Monks. The composer has greatly enjoyed these musical-dramatic projects, and will continue to explore this genre more fully. Works for chamber ensembles, readers, actors and dancers are envisioned. In addition, several purely musical works are on the 2003-4 schedule. These include Symphonic Dances, in celebration of the 20th season of the Carson City (NV) Symphony, a new work for Orpheus Male Chorus (Phoenix, AZ) and Chamber Orchestra for Orpheus's 75th anniversary, and a woodwind quintet for the Equinox Chamber Players of St. Louis, MO. This variety of genres is reflective of the composer's enthusiasm for a wide range of creative endeavors. Orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal and staged works are all part of the Walker musical life. The common element is the pursuit of imaginative expression. |