Bio, Press, and Samples
- Bio
- Short Bio
- Press
Ryan with Dr. Charles Argersinger |
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Biography
RYAN JESPERSON (1981) is a composer whose music is steeped in the modern practice of blurring genres and skewing expectations. With a taste for eccentric rhythms and dissonant chord progressions, Ryan’s music alludes to his jazz and rock roots while still firmly ensconced in the modern classical tradition. In 2011 Ryan completed a Doctorate in Music Composition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he was a Chancellor’s Doctoral Fellow, President of the Composer’s GUILD, and student senator. His dissertation, Songs from Behind the Curtain: an opera in three acts was awarded the 2011 UMKC Outstanding Dissertation Award. Ryan also holds an MM and an AD from the University of Hartford, and a BM and BA from Washington State University. His principal compositions teachers included Chen Yi, Zhou Long, James Mobberley, Larry Alan Smith, Robert Carl, Stephen Gryc, Charles Argersinger and Gregory Yasinitsky.
Ryan’s compositions have been performed across the country and abroad, with performances at numerous SCI and NACUSA concerts, the UCM New Music Festival, the Nebraska at Kearney New Music Festival, the Kalv Festival, and the ReJoyce Festival among others. Recent performances include Hebdomas Squatinae and Shark Week II: The Return of the Sharknado by the Verismo Trio, For Sounds in Winter Nights by the Asylum Quartet, Souvenirs/Miniatures at June in Buffalo, and What we talk about when we talk in 140 characters by The Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra. Upcoming performances include the premiere of Yet what is any ocean but a multitude of drops? by Glen Adsit and The Hartt Wind Ensemble, A Page Out of Zen by David Tayloe and Marko Stuparevic, and the premiere of …but in this dark night I am stationary and time is a river: The Diary of Agnes Williams by Elisabeth Halliday and the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra, which commissioned the work. Ryan’s work, BA(da)SS, for solo bass, was released on Navona Records in 2014.
Winner of the 2013 Verismo Trio/WMTA Composition Competition, the 2011 Gerald Kemner Prize for Orchestral Composition, the 2010 Beethoven Club/Belvedere Chamber Festival Composition Contest, the 2010 KC Chorale Composition Competition, and the 2009 British Trombone Society Composition Contest, Ryan has also been honored by NACUSA, the College Music Society, ASCAPLUS, the Lional Hampton Jazz Festival, FASR, and Phi Beta Kappa. Also an educator, Ryan was a member of the music faculty at the Hartford Conservatory and has taught at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Hartford. He is currently teaching computer applications in Hartford and is the husband of a violinist and father of a sweet little girl. Ryan is published through Sound Music Publications and Warwick Music, as well as his own imprint, Jazzperson Music. You can find out more at www.ryanjesperson.com.
updated 9/7/2015
Short Biography
Ryan Jesperson (1981) is a composer whose music is steeped in the modern practice of blurring genres and skewing expectations. Ryan holds degrees from Washington State University and The Hartt School, and earned his doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he was a Chancellor’s Doctoral Fellow and recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Dissertation Award. A winner of multiple awards and prizes, most recently the 2013 Verismo Trio Composition Award, the 2011 Gerald Kemner Prize for Orchestral Composition, the 2010 Beethoven Club/Belvedere Festival Composition Contest, and the 2009 British Trombone Society Composition Contest, Ryan’s compositions have been performed across North America and Europe, with recent performances in Hartford, Baltimore, Memphis, Boston, New York, Kansas City, Montreal, Sweden, Romania and the UK. Ryan is published through Sound Music Publications, Warwick Music, and his own imprint, Jazzperson Music. For more information please visit www.ryanjesperson.com.
updated 9/7/2014
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Ryan with Dr. Charles Argersinger |
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Press Clippings
Sites and Articles relating to Ryan Jesperson's Classical Compositions:
Daily Evergreen article about WSU New Music Festival, 2003.
Sigma Xi and FASR awards announcement, 2003.
Daily Evergreen article about Ryan Jesperson's Senior Recital, 2004.
WSU Graduation annoucement and Highlight Student Bios, 2004.
WSU College of Liberal Arts honors graduating students, 2004.
WSU Big Ten Award Announcement from the Spokesman Review, 2004.
WSU Chronicle, 2004.
Spokesman Review REJOYCE article, 2004.
Online Trombone Journal, "Cowiche Premiere", 2006.
University of Hartford Events, 2007.
West End String Quartet mention in ACF, 2007 (pg. 7).
UMKC Graduate Journal, 2008.
British Trombone Society Composition Competition Announcement, 2008.
Musical America Concert Announcement for Farbenmusik, 2009.
UCM New Music Festival program listing, 2009.
UNEWS Concerto/Aria Review, 2009.
NACUSA Young Composers Competition Announcement, 2009
Kearney Hub article on Ryan Jesperson's Birdsongs, 2009
No Extra Notes Podcast Page, 2009
Kalv Festival Press Release (in Swedish), 2009
Belvedere Festival Competition Contest announcement, 2010
Charles Bruffy and KC Chorale announcement, 2010
Charles Bruffy and KC Choral review "Indeed this very Love", 2010
UNK New Music Festival announcement, 2010
UMKC Orchestra Composition Contest Announcement, 2010
I.Jest review, KCMetropolis, 2011
Article about the Ineo Sax Quartet and Not Death, but Love, 2011
Rhymes with Opera and Orphee Redux preview, 2011
Real Art Ways RwO press release, 2011
Outstanding Dissertation Award press release, 2012
Online publication of 2004 LandEscapes, featuring music by Ryan Jesperson, 2012
A Love Theme for "Where We Live" arranged by me, 2014
A review of my work in The Wall Street Journal, 2015
Sites and Articles relating to Ryan Jesperson's Jazz Compositions:
WSU Vocal Extravaganza Announcement, 2003.
WSU Big Band, VoJazz concert Announcement, 2004.
Lional Hampton Jazz Festival Winner Announcement, 2004.
American Choral Director's Association Composers/Arrangers of Note.
Sites and Articles relating to Performances by Ryan Jesperson:
Daily Evergreen article about Jessica Rabbitt & the Gorilla's of Rhythm, 2003.
Moscow Chamber of Commerce: New Members Jessica Rabbitt et al...
Jazziz Website: Matt Reid Quintet featured on Jazziz Education CD.
Other Music-related Articles:
Ryan interviewed at age 13 for band camp...1994
Ryan interviewed about Zhou Long's Madame White Snake, 2010
Some links might be broken. If that is the case and you are interested in reading the article, a google search with my name and the particulars will hopefully find an archived copy on the web. I apologize for any broken links.
