
CO-OP PRESS
Featuring the music of Sy Brandon
Commission Assistance Grant
Purposes:
- To encourage performers at all levels of development (elementary
performing ensemble through professional) to experience the value of
working closely with a composer of Mainstream Literary Music*.
- To cultivate audiences for Mainstream Literary Music* by having
the composer speak about the music at the concert.
- To encourage composer/performer interaction by having the
composer and performer work closely during the creation and rehearsal
process.
- To foster the growth of Mainstream Literary Music* by providing
opportunities for educational outreach through open rehearsals,
pre-concert lectures, and in presentations to community and/or
educational organizations.
- *Mainstream Literary Music is art music that is based on
musical traditions established prior to the mid-20th century
Grant:
- Grant covers the cost of the commission fee, copying and
reproduction of parts, and composer
residency.
- Applicants must be individuals or organizations residing in the
continental United States.
- This grant is available for commissioning music from
award-winning composer, Sy Brandon. The music of composer, Sy Brandon,
may be sampled at http://cooppress.hostrack.net.
- Joseph Stephens, Director of Music at The First United
Methodist Church in El Dorado, AR writes,"Dr. Sy Brandon visited my
church for a premeire of one of his sacred choral works ("Psalm 23")
this year and the experience was one I will never forget. His ability
to connect with the people of the church as well as the choir was
remarkable. In addition to spending time with the choir he was gracious
enough to talk with me, at great length, about music composition and
practice. His music speaks on a level that few composers ever reach. I
would recommend him to any music ensemble for a commission or lecture
series. He taught me and my choir more in one day than all the training
I have had so far in my career."
- Paul Comptom, Oklahoma State University writes "The piece was
wonderful and better than I had even imagined. I would love to play the
composition again and again."
- Jay Krush, Faculty, Boyer College of Music, Temple University
writes, "As a speaker, Dr. Brandon is articulate, energetic and full of
fascinating, clearly voiced ideas. He is a natural teacher and has the
rare ability to make complex musical ideas comprehensible and
entertaining to musicians (whether professionals, studtents, or
amateurs) and to the general public and students, as well."
- Several grants will be awarded during each cycle.
Application Process:
| Deadline for receipt of application materials |
Announcement of grants |
January 1, 2008
|
January 15, 2008
|
April 1, 2008
|
April 15, 2008
|
| July 1, 2008 |
July 15, 2008 |
| October 1, 2008 |
October 15, 2008 |
- Application must include a description of the residency
activities
planned. (see suggestions)
- Criteria for evaluating applications include the completeness of
the application and the quality of performance as illustrated by the
recorded
materials submitted. Each level of development will be evaluated on its
own merit.
- Co-op Press reserves the right to not award a grant if there are
no suitable candidates.
- Only persons or organizations who have never received a grant
from Co-op Press are eligible to apply.
- Submitted materials will not be returned. Applicants will be
notified of the results via e-mail or by regular mail.
- Questions regarding this grant or application process may be
addressed to cooppress@comcast.net.
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in
July 2001:
- Rommel Cordova - Ft. Worth, Texas - "Concerto alla Jazz" for tuba and
band - "Sy is one of the most easy
going people I have had the pleasure of working with.
Collaborating with him on this piece and it's premiere was very
exciting for me. I look forward to working with him again in the
future!" Rommel Cordova
- Euphouria
Tuba/Euphonium Quartet - Cookeville, Tennessee - "In
Remembrance, Spetember 11, 2001"
- John
Hardisky - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - "Sonata Ritmico" for tuba and piano
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in
November 2001:
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in
March 2002:
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in
July 2002:
- Dr.
Kenyon Wilson - Fulbright Scholar at Baku Music Academy - "American Fantasy" for tuba and piano
- "Dr. Brandon demonstrated
extensive
knowledge of effective compositional techniques specific to my
instrument and worked closely with me to produce a new composition that
was exactly what I needed--a strong piece with a touch of Americana."
Dr. Kenyon Wilson
- Harmonie
Del Sur Oboe and Trumpet Duo - "Three
Flirtations"
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in
November 2002:
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in
March 2003:
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in October
2003:
- Duozona - Tempe, AZ - "Southwestern
Suite" for flute and guitar - "Sy
Brandon's Southwestern Suite
received a overwhelmingly exciting response from the audience, who lept
to their feet in aplause at the final note. How often do you get to
experience a standing ovation in the middle of a program?" Chuck
and
Theresa Hulihan, Duozona
- Paul
Compton - Oklahoma State University - "Ballad and Dance Variations" for
trombone and band
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in April
2004:
- University
of Arkansas Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble - "Suite Francaise
Moderne" - "Suite Francaise Moderne
is a wonderful addition to the
tuba-euphonium ensemble repertoire. The piece's neotonal
foundation and unique style lend themselves aptly to the deep, rich
voices of the instruments. Mr. Brandon's melodies are first rate
and memorable." Dr. Benjamin Pierce
- San Jose Metropolitan Band
- "Metropolitan Moods"
- French Road School Elementary School String Orchestra - "Escape to Freedom"
- French Road School Elementary School Blue Band - "Civil War
Suite" - "By using popular songs
of
the Civil War period, Sy Brandon has wonderfully captured the moods and
emotions of the common folks who lived through the War. The Suite
really helped our students to understand the War in a more personal
way." James Orgar
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in
October
2004:
- The Chicago Brass Band Players - "Introduction, Aria, and Dance"
- "...an audience-pleasing,
expressive original work for programming on a concert. Every 10-piece
brass ensemble should try it." - Steve Marcus, director of the
Chicago Brass Band Players.
- The Silverwind Duo - "Kaleidoscope" for flute and clarinet - "Kaleidoscope is an inventive suite of
vibrant musical miniatures. The instrument interplay combines melodic
motives and imaginative timbres into a colorful and shape-shifting (not
to mention entertaining!) musical experience" - Dr. Andrew
Seigel and Nicole McPherson, Silverwind Duo
- The International Euphonium Institute - "Echoes"
for double euphonium quartet - "The
work is very idiomatic and easy to put together." - Adam Frey,
Founder and Directorof the International Euphonium Institute
- The Hartford Brass Quintet
- "Scenes
from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court"
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in April
2005:
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in October
2005:
- Harpsody - "Sonatasia" - "Sy Brandon was
informative and educational and we understood the piece better as we
learned his approach to the piece and his ideas." - Kaffee T.
Minum and Tomoko Sato, Harpsody
- Royce City Middle School Band - "Mission
to Mars"- "Dr. Brandon's
residency with our band provided insight into the composer's creativity
process and added so much more to the premiere performance." -
Shayne Canning - Royse City Middle School Band
Director
Royce City High School Band - "A
Franklin Portrait" - "A Franklin Portrait brings the world of
music and history into an educational and emotional experience of the
highest quality." - Dean Bouras - Royse City High School Band
Director- Altoona Area High School Orchestra - "Horseshoe Curve" - " Horseshoe Curve was exactly what I was
hoping for. What a wonderful tribute to the hard workers of the
railroad and the city of Altoona." - Kelly Detwiler, Altoona
Area High School Orchestra Director
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in October
2006:
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants Awarded in April
2007:
Recipients of Commission Assistance Grants
Awarded in October
2007:
- Meggie Aube
- Kansas State University Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble