Composer Profiles
Su Lian Tan
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Music Department 92 Grandview Road #2
Center for the Arts Middlebury, VT 05753
Middlebury College 802-388-7332
Middlebury, VT 05753
802-443-5224
Fax: 802-443-2057
EDUCATION
- Princeton University, Ph.D. in composition (1997)
- Princeton University, M.F.A. in composition (1990)
- The Juilliard School, M.M. in composition (1988)
- Bennington College, B.A. in flute and composition (1985)
- Fellow of Trinity College, London in flute performance (1981)
- Licentiate of Trinity College, London in flute performance (1979)
COMPOSITION
- Publisher
Theodore Presser Co.
- Studies with
Vincent Persichetti (Juilliard)
Milton Babbitt (Juilliard)
Bernard Rands (Juilliard)
Louis Calabro (Bennington)
Vivian Fine (Bennington)
- Performances of original music at
Freer Gallery, Washington DC
Ladies Morning Musicales, Montreal, Canada
Corcoran Gallery, Washington DC
Caramoor Center for the Arts, Katonah, NY
Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Philadelphia, PA
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, NY
Merkin Hall, NY
Summergarden Series at Museum of Modern Art, NY
Keelung International Modern Music Festival, Taipei
International Music Festival, Brazil
Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk, CT
Focus! Festival, Lincoln Center, NY
Bimhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
British Council, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
International Women’s Brass Conference, Saint Louis, MO
Troy Saving Bank Hall, Troy, NY
SUNY Fredonia
- Performances of original music by
Takacs String Quartet
Albany Symphony Orchestra
Dinosaur Annex
Raphael Trio and Desiree Halac
Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Meridian Arts Ensemble
Da Capo Chamber Players
The CoreEnsemble
Mosaic
San Francisco Symphony (as part of the Wet Ink concert series)
Cassatt Quartet
ALEA III
New Juillard Ensemble
Chicago Ensemble
Kammermusik Ensemble Bern
Perpetuum Mobile
Princeton University Orchestra
Middlebury Chamber Soloists
various Juilliard ensembles
Princeton Composer’s Ensemble
- Recordings/Broadcasts
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC): broadcast of Life in Wayang with Takacs String Quartet (2003)
Meridian Arts Ensemble (1998) on Channel Classics label.
Dutch Public Radio (1997): broadcast of Moo Shu Wrap-Rap
National Public Radio (2002): broadcast of Autumn Lute-Song with Albany SO
COMMISSIONS
- Christine Schadeberg and piano trio (2003)
- Takacs String Quartet (2002) for Life in Wayang
- Vermont Music Teachers Association (1999) for The Eternity Ring
- Genkin Philharmonic (1999) Fuchien Monologues
- Daniel Grabois (NY) (1998) for Langkawi Mythology
- Middlebury College (Bicentennial commission) (1999) Jamaica’s Songs with Jamaica Kincaid
- Meridian Arts Ensemble (1997) for Moo Shu: the Opera
- Zuill Bailey (1997) for cello concerto
- New Juilliard Ensemble (1997) for Couture
- Sage City Symphony (1998) for orchestral work
- Dieuwke Davydov (1997) Langkawi Mythology II
- Da Capo Chamber Players (1996) for Invention and Sinfonia
- Vermont Symphony Orchestra (1995) for Autumn Lute Song
- Meridian Arts Ensemble (1995) for Moo Shu Wrap-Rap
- Amy Williams (1995) for Go Tango
- Carol Christensen (1995) for My Improvising Ears
- The Core Ensemble (1994) for Cascades
- Mosaic (1993) for Menagerie
- Encore Brass (1993) for Two Scenes for Brass Quintet
- Princeton University Orchestra (1992) for Somniloquy
- Amici Musici, Switzerland/Germany (1986) for Sextet
- Sage City Symphony (1985) for Round-Up
TEACHING
- Middlebury College, Associate Professor; Former Chairman, Music Dept (1992-present): Teach beginning and upper-level composition. Advise all senior composition projects. Continued and greatly expanded a visiting performing artist residency program to include larger and recognized ensembles (Takacs Quartet, Meridian Arts Ensemble, Mosaic, Brentano String Quartet, The Core Ensemble, Acapellafellas) and greatly increased student involvement. Coach independent projects in performance and chamber music groups. Initiate and coordinate numerous student, professional, and student/professional concerts and joint departmental enterprises with theater and dance. Produced and conducted operas (L’Incoronazione di Poppea, Gimpel the Fool), the Middlebury Chamber Soloists series, the Festivals of the Human Voice I and II in 1995 and 1997, and advise the Concert Series. Curator of panel and concert representing music in the 21st century for the Clifford Symposium (keynote speaker, Edward Albee). For more particulars, please refer to College website.
- Bennington College, Faculty (fall 1990,1992): Taught beginning composition and theory.
- Princeton University, Teaching Assistant: Taught classes in counterpoint, 20th century music, a cappella singing, and rock music.
- Juilliard School, Teaching Fellow: Taught music history and theory in the Literature and Materials Department (1987-88).
- Bennington College July Program, Faculty: Taught music composition, theory, and history. Organized faculty performances and concerts of student works. Taught and tutored students in flute and chamber music. Organized the music curriculum. (1988-92)
- Selangor Academy of Music: Instructor in flute (1982).
- Guest Lecturer, School of Music, University of Colorado at Boulder (2003): Invited to give convocation lecture, classroom lectures, pre-concert talks, and masterclasses with graduate composers.
- Guest Lecturer, Dartmouth College (1998): gave composition lecture
- Guest Lecturer and Performer, SUNY, Fredonia (2001): gave composition lectures, and performed with the Meridian Arts Ensemble.
AWARDS
- Vermont Composer of the Year, Vermont Music Teachers Association (1999)
- Composer-in-Residence, Bennington College (1997-98)
- Yaddo Colony Fellow (1997, 1995, 1987)
- Composer-in-Residence, Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival (1996)
- ASCAP Composition Award (Honorable Mention, 1994)
- Prize Winner, International Women’s Brass Conference (1993)
- Resident Composer, Composer's Forum of the East (1991)
- Naumburg Fellowship Award (1991)
- International Composer's Competition (NEM), Finalist (1991)
- Kucyna International Composition Competition Finalist (1987)
- McDowell Colony Fellow (1987)
- Meet the Composer Grant (1987)
FLUTE
- Soloist
- Albany Symphony Orchestra (2002) in Autumn Lute-Song
- An Evening of Improvisation(2002) with Cyrus Chestnut, Mark Christensen and Keith Watts.
- Meridian Arts Ensemble (1997-2001) in Moo Shu at Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, SUNY Fredonia, and in Europe (Holland, Germany)
- Vermont Symphony Orchestra (1995) in eleven performances of Autumn Lute-Song on a statewide tour.
- SEAMUS Conferences (1994) in works by Davidovsky, Nelson, and Chasalow.
- Sage City Symphony (1984)
- Festival Orchestra of Penang in conjunction with the United Nations (1988)
- Chamber music
- Norfolk Chamber Music Festival (1997)
- Meridian Arts Ensemble (1997)
- Middlebury Chamber Soloists (1993-present )
- Princeton Composer’s Ensemble (1992)
- Perpetuum Mobile ensemble, New York (1988)
- Juilliard ensembles and orchestras at Lincoln Center (1986-88)
- Young Artist Series WQXR Radio, New York (1985) many of these including premieres of new American works
- Recordings
- Music of Allen Shawn (1997) on the Northeastern label
- Radio and Television Malaysia (1978-81) national broadcasts
- Morning Pro Musica (1997)
- Studies
- Sue Ann Kahn (Bennington)
- Patricia Spencer (Bennington)
- Claude Monteux
- Master classes
- Jean-Pierre Rampal
- Julius Baker
- Samuel Baron
- Thomas Nyfenger
VOICE
- Studies
- Robert Sadin (Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Jazz Ensemble)
- Madaleine Chambers (Metropolitan Opera, Princeton University)
- Frank Baker (Bennington College)
- Barry Ellison (Princeton University)
- Performances
- Princeton Composer's Ensemble
- Middlebury Chamber Soloists
- Recitals at Princeton University, Middlebury College, Bard College, Bennington College of lieder, musicals, and premieres and performances of pieces by contemporary composers including Chris Molina, Tom Geoghagan, Daron Hagen, Vincent Persichetti
MISCELLANEOUS
- Producer, Piano music by Allen Shawn, Albany Records
- Cello music (Renard Rott, cellist)
- Dispatch: Silent Steeples (formerly One Fell Swoop), Bomber Records
ORIGINAL WORKS
- Life in Wayang 2002 27’ string quartet
- Langkawi Mythology II 2001 13’ vc solo
- Fuchien Monologues 2000 16’ tpt, trb, sax, perc, elec gtr
- Jamaica’s Songs (text: Jam. Kincaid) 2000 30’ mezzo -soprano,vln,vcl
- The Eternity Ring 1999 15’ vc, pno
- Langkawi Mythology 1999 15’ fr hrn, pno
- Couture 1997 13' mixed ens
- Concerto for Cello and Orch. 1997 30' vc, orch
- Moo Shu Wrap-Rap (rev.) 1997 12' brass qnt, perc, fl, vo
- Stormy Weather (arr.) 1996 5' 3 sop
- Too Darn Hot (arr.) 1996 4' 3 sop
- For All We Know (arr.) 1996 5' 3 sop
- Invention and Sinfonia 1996 12' fl, vc. pno
- Go Tango, Christine 1996 6' vln, pno
- My Improvising Ears 1995 25' sop, pno
- Autumn Lute Song 1995 15' orch, fl (published by Theodore Presser.Co.)
- Moo Shu Wrap-Rap 1995 12' brass quintet, perc (recorded by the Meridian Arts Ensemble)
- Go Tango 1995 5' pno
- Mr. Sandman (arr.) 1994 3' three sopranos
- Cascades 1994 13' pno, vc, perc
- Menagerie 1994 20' fl, vc, pno, perc
- Two Scenes 1993 12’ brass quintet
- A Drole Barcarolle 1993 4’ piano
- Somniloquy 1992 22’ orchestra
- Three Malaysian Folk Songs 1992 12’ three sopranos
- The Pied Piper 1992 9’ chamber ensemble
- Perambulastories III 1991 24’ string quartet
- Romance 1991 7’ fl, ob, hn, vln, vla, vc
- By Leaps and Bounds 1990 10’ vc, pno
- Perambulastories II 1989 15’ ob, cl, vln, vla, vc, pno, hp,perc
- Piano Concerto 1988 20’ pno, orch
- Shawm Song 1987 7’ ob, pno
- Sextet 1986 14’ fl, ob, cl, hn, bn, pno
- Mirage 1986 12’ fl, pno
- Translusions for Nine 1986 15’ fl, cl, vln, vla, vc, pno, perc
- Perambulastories 1986 10’ vc, db
- A Light, Bright Place in the Dark 1985 8’ fl, cl, vla, vc, pno
- Round-Up 1985 10’ orch
- Down by the Pond... 1984 8’ voice, vla, vcl, db
- Two Blake Songs 1984 4’ voice, fl, cl, vc
- Flute Quartet 1984 5’ four C flutes
- Four Songs (Carl Sandburg) 1983 9’ voice, pno
- Five Dances 1983 5’ fl, cl
PERFORMANCES
- Life in Wayang
- Takacs String Quartet (2003)
- Middlebury College, VT
- Freer Gallery, Washington DC
- Lafayette College, Easton, PA
- Ladies Morning Musicales, Montreal, Canada
- Seton Hall University, NJ
- Corcoran Gallery, Washington DC
- Caramoor Center for the Arts, Katonah, NY
- Friends of Chamber Music, Portland, OR
- University of Colorado, Boulder
- Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Philadelphia, PA
- Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
- Williams College, Williamstown, MA
- Langkawi MythologyII Renard Rott, UCSD, Feb. 2003
- Jamaica’s Songs
- Desiree Halac, Merkin Hall, NY, April 2003
- Desiree Halac, C. Sohn, R. Rott, M. Mares, Middlebury Coll., March 2001
- Desiree Halac, The Raphael Trio, Oct. 2000
- The Eternity Ring
- The Core Ensemble, numerous perfs as part of 2002-03 tour
- Robert La Rue, Adrienne Kim, VMTA convention, VT, 1999
- Concerto for Cello and Orchestra Sage City Symphony, Oct 25, 1998
- Couture New Juilliard Ensemble, Lincoln Center, NY, April 1998
- Moo Shu Rap Wrap
- Meridian Arts Ensemble, 200+ performances in US, South America, Holland, and Germany in 1996-2001 including the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and SUNY Fredonia
- Meridian Arts Ensemble, New York, Sept. 1996
- Stormy Weather,Too Darn Hot , Middlebury Chamber Soloists, March 1997
- For All We Know (arr.) and Invention and Sinfonia Da Capo Chamber Players, New York, Feb-March, 1998, Apr.1996
- My Improvising Ears Middlebury Chamber Soloists, March 1996
- Go Tango, Christine!Middlebury Chamber Soloists, March 1996
- Go Tango
- Middlebury Chamber Soloists, March 1996
- Amy Williams, Oct. 1995
- Autumn Lute Song Albany Symphony Orchestra, Feb. 2002 (2 perf); Vermont Symphony Orchestra, 11 performances, Sept.-Oct. 1995
- Cascades
- The Core Ensemble, Miami, Spring 1996
- The Core Ensemble, Boston, April 1996
- The Core Ensemble, Oct.-March, 1994-95
- MenagerieMosaic, January 1994
- Two Scenes for brass quintetInternational Women’s Brass Conference, June 1993
- By Leaps and Bounds
- Summergarden Series, New York, Aug. 1997
- Focus! Festival, New York, January 1996
- Zuill Bailey, New York, April 1996
- San Francisco Symphony (Wet Ink), April 1993
- Chicago Ensemble, Nov 1992, April 1994 (3)
- San Francisco Conservatory, Fac. Ens., Dec 1993
- Bennington Chamber Players, July 1991
- Princeton Chamber Ensemble, May 1991
- Somniloquy Princeton University Orchestra, October 1992
- Perambulastories III
- Cassatt String Quartet, April 1991
- Bennington Quartet, Aug 1991
- Three Malaysian Folksongs
- Warebrook Contemporary Festival, Aug. 1996
- Middlebury Chamber Soloists, 1994 (2)
- Princeton Chamber Ensemble,April 1992
- The Pied Piper Bennington Chamber Ensemble, July 1992
- Romance Chamber Music Conference of the East, Aug 1991
- Perambulastories II Princeton Chamber Ensemble, April 1990
- Perambulastories Juilliard Ensemble, Paul Hall, NY, April 1988
- Shawm Song
- Amici Musici, August, 1996
- Juilliard Ensemble, Paul Hall, NY, Dec 1987
- Translusions for Nine
- ALEA III, Boston University, Sept 1987
- Juilliard Ensemble, Paul Hall, NY, Dec 1986
- Mirage
- Kuala Lumpur Chamber Players, British Council, 1997
- Juilliard Ensemble, Paul Hall, NY, Nov 1987
- Perpetuum Mobile, St. Michael's , NY, March 1987
- Juilliard Ensemble, Alice Tully Hall, NY, Jan 1987
- Juilliard Ensemble, Michigan University, Jan 1987
- Sextet
- Kammermusik Ensemble Bern, Germany, July 1987
- Juilliard Ensemble, Alice Tully Hall, NY, May 1988