Thomas Sleeper
Encyclopedia
Thomas M. Sleeper is a modern American composer and conductor. His music has been described as 'hauntingly mysterious' and 'richly lyrical'. He is currently the Director of Orchestral Activities and Conductor of the University of Miami
Frost Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theater. He is also the director of the Florida Youth Orchestra
.
, where he studied under Daryl F. Rauscher of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and James Rives-Jones. From 1975 -1978, while in Austin, Sleeper was active with an Avant-gard group of composer/performers called "Fermata". As a member of "Fermata" he worked with composers such as Jerry Willingham, Jerry Hunt
and Robert Xavier Rodriguez
. At 22 years of age Sleeper was appointed Associate Conductor of the Dallas Civic Symphony. Following his conducting stint with the Dallas Civic Symphony, Sleeper began to compose many pieces of music including, but not limited to, operas, concerti, symphonies, solo and chamber music.
He is a frequent guest conductor all over the world and has performed with ensembles such as the Central Philharmonic of China, Argentina's San Juan Symphony Orchestra, and Bulgaria's Ruse State Philharmonic. In addition, he was named the Artistic Advisor of the China-Wuhan Symphony in 1993. Sleeper is an advocate of new music, and has commissioned and conducted the premiers of works of composers including Thomas Ludwig, Henry Brant
, Carlos Surinach
, Robert Xavier Rodriguez
. He currently lives in Miami, Florida, and is on the faculty of the University of Miami.
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
Frost Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theater. He is also the director of the Florida Youth Orchestra
Florida Youth Orchestra
The Florida Youth Orchestra is a philharmonic orchestra for young musicians, ages 6 – 19. It was founded in 1988 by South Florida's first TV weatherman Bob Weaver . The orchestra has more than 300 members...
.
History
Sleeper was born in Oklahoma. He received his Bachelor of Music at the University of Texas, and subsequently received his Master of Music at Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, where he studied under Daryl F. Rauscher of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and James Rives-Jones. From 1975 -1978, while in Austin, Sleeper was active with an Avant-gard group of composer/performers called "Fermata". As a member of "Fermata" he worked with composers such as Jerry Willingham, Jerry Hunt
Jerry Hunt
Jerry Hunt was an American composer who created works using live electronics partly controlled by his ritualistic performance techniques, influenced by his interest in the occult. He committed suicide in response to terminal cancer...
and Robert Xavier Rodriguez
Robert Xavier Rodriguez
Robert Xavier Rodríguez is an American classical composer, best known for his eight operas and his works for children.- Life and career :...
. At 22 years of age Sleeper was appointed Associate Conductor of the Dallas Civic Symphony. Following his conducting stint with the Dallas Civic Symphony, Sleeper began to compose many pieces of music including, but not limited to, operas, concerti, symphonies, solo and chamber music.
He is a frequent guest conductor all over the world and has performed with ensembles such as the Central Philharmonic of China, Argentina's San Juan Symphony Orchestra, and Bulgaria's Ruse State Philharmonic. In addition, he was named the Artistic Advisor of the China-Wuhan Symphony in 1993. Sleeper is an advocate of new music, and has commissioned and conducted the premiers of works of composers including Thomas Ludwig, Henry Brant
Henry Brant
Henry Dreyfuss Brant was a Canadian-born American composer. An expert orchestrator with a flair for experimentation, many of Brant's works featured spatialization techniques.- Biography :...
, Carlos Surinach
Carlos Surinach
Carlos Surinach was a Catalan Spanish-born composer and conductor.He was born in Barcelona, where he held conducting posts at the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona and the Gran Teatre del Liceu...
, Robert Xavier Rodriguez
Robert Xavier Rodriguez
Robert Xavier Rodríguez is an American classical composer, best known for his eight operas and his works for children.- Life and career :...
. He currently lives in Miami, Florida, and is on the faculty of the University of Miami.
Notable works
- PARALLAX, for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble written for and premiered by Timothy Shade, Wichita , Kansas, September 2011
- Parallages, for solo piano, written for Greek pianist Zoe ZeniodiZoe ZeniodiZoe Zeniodi is Music Director of the Broward Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor for the Frost Symphony Orchestra. She is also the Associate Guest Conductor for the Alhambra Orchestra in Florida and has appeared as guest conductor with the New Philharmonic and the National Youth Orchestra...
. Premiered in the Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival on Crete, June 25, 2011 - '"'Through a Glass Darkly" for Soprano and Orchestra, written for soprano Irini Kyriakidou , conductor Zoe ZeniodiZoe ZeniodiZoe Zeniodi is Music Director of the Broward Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor for the Frost Symphony Orchestra. She is also the Associate Guest Conductor for the Alhambra Orchestra in Florida and has appeared as guest conductor with the New Philharmonic and the National Youth Orchestra...
and the Broward Symphony Orchestra. Premiered in Bailey Hall on February 26, 2011 - Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra", written for and premiered by Dale Underwood with the Florida Youth Orchestra, Zoe ZeniodiZoe ZeniodiZoe Zeniodi is Music Director of the Broward Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor for the Frost Symphony Orchestra. She is also the Associate Guest Conductor for the Alhambra Orchestra in Florida and has appeared as guest conductor with the New Philharmonic and the National Youth Orchestra...
, conductor in Bailey Hall, November, 2010 and in the chamber version for 9 instruments with Ensemble 21 under the direction of Zoe ZeniodiZoe ZeniodiZoe Zeniodi is Music Director of the Broward Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor for the Frost Symphony Orchestra. She is also the Associate Guest Conductor for the Alhambra Orchestra in Florida and has appeared as guest conductor with the New Philharmonic and the National Youth Orchestra...
, February 23, 2011 - XENIA for Tenor and Orchestra", based on texts by Jane Alison from her novel The Love Artist. Premiered by John Duykers and the Frost Symphony Orchestra with conductor Zoe ZeniodiZoe ZeniodiZoe Zeniodi is Music Director of the Broward Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor for the Frost Symphony Orchestra. She is also the Associate Guest Conductor for the Alhambra Orchestra in Florida and has appeared as guest conductor with the New Philharmonic and the National Youth Orchestra...
in Gusman Hall on February 20, 2010 - Translucence for Trombone and Orchestra, premiered by Timothy Conner and the Frost Symphony Orchestra with conductor Zoe ZeniodiZoe ZeniodiZoe Zeniodi is Music Director of the Broward Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor for the Frost Symphony Orchestra. She is also the Associate Guest Conductor for the Alhambra Orchestra in Florida and has appeared as guest conductor with the New Philharmonic and the National Youth Orchestra...
in Gusman Hall on March 7, 2009 - String Quartet No. 3, written for and premiered by the Delray String Quartet, February 2009
- The Sisters Antipodes, a short opera written in conjunction with Australian author, Jane Alison and visual artist Sherri TanSherri TanSherri Tan is an American figurative artist whose work includes collage, sculpture, photography, books and multimedia. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the US including the Bass Museum of Art, Miami; the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Ft...
, premiered November 2009 - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, premiered by Jillian Bloom at Carnegie Hall on March 23, 2008
- Concerto for Trumpet, premiered by Craig Morris, former Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony OrchestraChicago Symphony OrchestraThe Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
- String Quartet No. 2, "Bergonzi", written for the famed Bergonzi String Quartet
- Aceldama: Field of Blood, an Opera performed across the world
- Symphony No. 1, premiered by the Meadows Symphony Orchestra in Dallas, Paul Phillips, conductor
- Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, written for bassoonBassoonThe bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
ist Kathryn Sleeper - Adagio for Orchestra
- Piano Concerto No. 2, premiered by pianist Justin Blasdale
- One Water (documentary)One Water (documentary)One Water is a documentary film directed by Sanjeev Chatterjee and Ali Habashi. The film premiered at the 2008 Miami International Film Festival on 22 February 2008.-Film:...
, documentary film score
Discography
- Sleeper: Symphony No. .1, XENIA, Six Arias for Cello and Orchestra, Albany Records 2010 (TROY 1212), Thomas M. Sleeper (composer)
- Maslanka, Sleeper: Reflections: Concerto for Trumpet, NAXOS Records 2007, Thomas M. Sleeper (composer)
- Rodríguez: Works For Chorus And Orchestra, Albany Records 2001, Thomas M. Sleeper (conductor)
- Surinach: Symphonic Melismas, Double Concerto, Etc , Centaur Records 1996, (conductor)
- Aceldama, Albany Records, (composer, conductor)
- Ticheli, Van Der Slice, Sleeper: Orchestral Works, Albany Records, (composer, conductor)
- Finzi, Brahms, R. Strauss, Centaur Records, (conductor)