Paul M. Dooley is a composer, pianist, and percussionist currently working on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Michigan. Paul grew up in the wine country just inland from the Pacific and began composing music at age 12. Paul has “clearly learned how to deal with the orchestra” (composer Steve Reich) and his music “shimmered beautifully” (Omaha World-Herald). His compositions take inspiration from dance, nature & travel. Paul’s Dani’s Dance (2007), inspired by his travel and dance fanatic mother, received a 2008 Morton Gould Young Composer Award. Encaenia (2008),inspired by the Grecian Elusian mysteries, commissioned and premiered by the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, has been choreographed for ballet by UC Berkeley Dance and was featured in a master class with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble. His Pomo Canyon Air (2005); an homage to the Sonoma Coast, has been performed by the University of Southern California Thorton Symphony conducted by Donald Crockett, The Omaha Symphony conducted by Ernest Richardson, the Aspen Music Festival’s American Academy of Conducting Orchestra conducted by Gergely Madaras, and read by the Detroit Symphony conducted by Leonard Slatkin, with an upcoming performance in April 2010 by the Atlantic Classical Orchestra conducted by Stewart Robertson. Other performances of Paul’s music include those by the Juventas New Music Ensemble, Eugene Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and the University of Michigan Symphony Band Chamber Winds. Recent awards include fellowships from the Aspen Music Festival and University of Michigan, a nomination from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and a commission from the Michigan Music Teachers Association. Paul’s principal teachers include Michael Daugherty, Evan Chambers, Frank Ticheli, Stephen Hartke and Doc Collins. Paul is also interested in electronic music and composes with software such as ProTools, Logic, Digital Performer and Max-MSP. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Southern California and is member of Phi Beta Kappa. |