Dream Circus Rob Deemer

Maestro Band Series

PROGRAM NOTES
Commissioned by the Northern Illinois All-University Band, Lawrence Stoffel, Conductor

ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Rob Deemer is extremely active today as a composer, conductor, educator and advocate for the arts. Such groups as the U.S Army Orchestra (Pershing's Own), Millar Brass Ensemble, Austin Civic Orchestra, the University of Texas Symphony, wind bands at the University of North Texas, Roosevelt University, Texas State University and Northern Illinois University, Tosca String Quartet, MacArthur String Quartet, Chicago Trombone Quartet, Florida State University Flute Choir, the trombone choirs at University of Texas and University of Oklahoma, and the new music ensembles at the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma have performed Deemer's works. His music has been received recognitions by BMI, Down Beat Magazine, Voices of Change, the Austin Civic Orchestra, the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra and Manhattan Beach Music and was most recently nominated by the Austin Critics Table for Best Composition in 2007.

In addition to his work in concert music, Rob has extensive experience as a composer for film, theatre and dance. With over 30 films and documentaries to his credit, his film scores have been heard in the Cannes Film festival, Directors Guilds of America in both Los Angeles and New York, the Festival CineLatino in San Francisco and the Festivale Pan African du Cinema in Ouagadougou, Africa. His work as theatrical composer and sound designer has been produced at the Mark Taper New Works Festival, the California Institute of the Arts and the Skylight and Crown Theatres in Los Angeles. As an author, he is currently co-authoring Music in Sound Film, An Introduction with noted film scholars David Neumeyer and James Buhler.

Deemer is the Artistic Director of Music and Composer-in-Residence with the American Repertory Ensemble, a unique interdisciplinary ensemble made up of chamber musicians and principal ballet dancers from around the country. With ARE his works have been performed in Austin, Texas, Edinburgh, Scotland, and in January of 2008 in Mazatlan, Mexico. In 2006, Deemer created "The Composer Next Door", a new radio show that focuses on living composers and their music that broadcasts out of KCSC-FM on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma. Taking an "American Tour" approach with each show exploring the composers who live in a specific city, state or region in the United States, the program has been awarded grants through the Kirkpatrick Foundation.

Deemer holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition from the University of Texas, a Master of Music in Composition as well as a Performers Certificate in Conducting from Northern Illinois University and an Advanced Certificate in Scoring for Film and Television from the University of Southern California. He has held teaching positions at The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University and The University of Texas. His instructors have included Dan Welcher, Donald Grantham and Jan Bach and he has participated in individual workshops with John Corigliano, William Bolcom, George Crumb, Elmer Bernstein, David Raksin, Jerry Goldsmith, Melinda Wagner, Christopher Theofanidis and Christopher Young.