One of the most successful emerging composers in Southern California, rogerallenward (b. 1963) hails from the Oklahoma prairie, where he began his musical career at age 8 studying piano. Although he loved music, he had the same teacher, assignments and music books as his sister; and wanting to emerge from her shadow he switched to cello at 11. A natural instrumentalist, by 14 roger was also playing oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, euphonium, trombone and tuba. Growing up in a college town, he was able to immerse himself in music activities both in public school and at the university, including playing oboe and english horn in the college orchestra while still in high school.
His music studies at college began by focusing on oboe performance, but his interest in composition led him down a different path, studying with composers Evan Tonsing, Michael Hennigan and Carolyn Bremer. After taking his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma, ward pursued graduate studies at the California Institute of the Arts, where he studied with many noted composers including Mel Powell, Lucky Mosko, Morton Subotnick, Arthur Jarvinen, Mary Jane Leach, and Annie Gosfield. In addition to instrumental composition, his work at CalArts included Balinese music, interactive computer music and vocal performance. After leaving CalArts, he joined the California Philharmonic, having started his relationship with the orchestra as an intern.
Mr. ward was appointed to be the first-ever Composer in Residence with the California Philharmonic by noted conductor Victor Vener. During his tenure with Cal Phil, he has distinguished himself throughout national music circles and is noted for the “powerful lyricism” of his music. His compositions, which consistently draw praise from musicians and concertgoers alike, have been heard around the country in concert halls and radio broadcasts. The Los Angeles Times raved of the “most impressive effect” of his music, while the Pasadena Star-News described its “tuneful medleys and mind-reeling fast passages.”
During his collaboration with Maestro Vener and Cal Phil, ward has written nine orchestral works: symphony no. 1, earth: you are here, there was enough time for everything, pacific vistas, walk of stars, freeways & surface streets, california dreaming, festive music and music for percussion and orchestra and three chamber works, short stories, meditation: the four elements and dirty martini.
In addition to Cal Phil, major ensembles that have performed his music include the California EAR Unit, CalArts New Century Players, Kronos Quartet, the Bang on a Can All-Stars and ensembleGREEN. His music for solo harp was premiered by new music harpist Susan Allen on the World Music Institute's Interpretations series at Merkin Hall during the 1998-1999 season. He composed the original score for the feature-length video Nudity and Adult Situations, directed by Shaun Vinyard and written by Gregory Lyle Newton, which was selected to open the 1998 Blue Sky International Film Festival in Las Vegas. Although his focus is on orchestral music, his compositions range in genre from experiments in music concrete to improvisational pieces, opera, choral, solo pieces, songs, large ensemble works and chamber music.
roger was twice selected as a participant in the Arcosanti Young Composers Seminar and was the first ever winner of the Gregory Sauer solo cello composition competition. He has been a guest artist at California State University at Long Beach, sharing his music and professional experience with the next generation of emerging composers. During his time at CalArts, he taught composition and music theory through the CalArts Community Arts Partnership at several locations throughout
Los Angeles County.
