BIOGRAPHY
Upcoming: Rain has Fallen, a 14 minute song cycle to poems by James Joyce is to be premiered in Germany by baritone, Hartmut Schulz and pianist, Sayoko Akimoto on 1/8/22, at Academia Arte, Alser Strasse 28, 1090 Wien, Austri. In 2021 I wrote harp concerto; some orchestral song cycles and a second symphony for large orchestra, and vocal & instrumental chamber works.
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I wrote my first mass on my 12th birthday. It was performed in New York City at The Cathedral of St. John The Divine,
and at St. Anne's Pro-Cathedral of Brooklyn, both in NYC. Before that age I was in a rock group, and reputedly wrote 200 songs (I question that number). At age 13 my Organ Sonata: 12 Tone Under Glass; was performed on numerous concerts across New England by my father, Dr. Sam Walter. My St. Mark Passion was written when I was age 17 and performed the following year at The Church of The Resurrection in New York City. You can click on any of the bunnies (or the button) to the right to hear most of my St. Mark Passion: |
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My parents were, by far, the greatest musical influences of my life. My father, Dr. Sam Walter (photo to right) was a brilliant conductor, composer, and concert organist, who gave 52 concerts a year. He was also professor of organ at Rutgers University and the organist at Marsh Chapel, Boston University; The Church of The Resurrection, NYC; St. Anne & 's pro-cathedral of Brooklin, NYC. He taught at New England Concervatory. He is a published author of choral music & a book on service playing. He encouraged, promoted, and performed my music from an early age. He even copied parts for several performances.
My mother, Janet Wheeler (photo to right) was an amazing vocal coach for me. She was a soprano with a great deep rich soprano voice. She was a graduate of The Eastman School of Music and New England Conservatory. She had a long career as a soloist, singing works of Bach, Mozart, Britten and Puccini and later, a very contemporary work by her dear friend, Rolv Yttrehus. She was a professor at Bard College where she co-founded an opera and acting department with director, William Driver, |
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I received a Bachelor of Music in musical composition from The Juilliard School of Music. I studied with Vincent Persichetti (2 years) & with Otto Leuning & David Diamond. I placed out of secondary piano and the first two years of theory and I received an honorary scholarship my Junior year. My Masque of The Red Death (age 21) was recorded by The Juilliard Concert Orchestra in my senior year. In my sophomore year, The Juilliard Concert String Orchestra recorded my Cloud Blue (age 19): and Please click on the picture to the right to hear "Cloud Blue" and read the score: |
Cloud Blue Recording/Score
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I pursued a PhD in musical composition at Boston University, where I taught courses in Ear Training and Keyboard Harmony on a teaching fellowship. I finished all of the course work (except for one) and wrote the thesis (III/I/5d). I studied composition with Joyce MeKeel, David Del Tredici & John Thow.
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Subsequently I was offered post graduate scholarships in opera at Boston Conservatory & New England Conservatory.
I also have an Master's of Arts degree in vocal performance. Among other teachers, I studied voice with (left to right below) Oren Brown (Juilliard) & Metropolitan Opera stars: Jeffrey Gall, countertenor, & Jerome Hines, bass. I gave the Boston premiere of the male solos in the newly discovered chamber version of The Fauré Requiem at King's Chapel, Boston under Daniel Pinkham (below, right), Please click on the pictures right and below to find out more: |
Merton Brown
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Oren Brown, Jeffrey Gall, Jerome Hines, Daniel Pinkham
I have been the composer-in-residence for The Putnam Court Musicians (also regular performer); Primetime for Kids at Massasoit College in Brockton, MA. (also music director and pianist) and Music Now and Now Dance (also artistic director and regular performer;
I was one of three composers with Charles Turner & Merton Brown (see "Teachers..."). Guest composers included: Gary Nolan, Daniel Pinkham, David Swerdlove, & Dr. Sam Walter.
I was one of three composers with Charles Turner & Merton Brown (see "Teachers..."). Guest composers included: Gary Nolan, Daniel Pinkham, David Swerdlove, & Dr. Sam Walter.
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My music has been performed: Copley Square Ballet Company, Kinetic Dance Theater of Moscow, M. I. T. Concert Band, Mobius, North Shore Civic Ballet, OutLook Film and Video, NYC. My Invocation for Organ was commissioned by The American Guild of Organists and is published by E. C. Schirmer. Two of the series that I produced for Boston Neighborhood Network-TV: Crazy Dinosaurs and Out-TV won an honorable mention and
2nd prize in The Hometown USA Film and Video Competition. Please click on any dinosaur (or the button) to the right to visit Crazy Dinosaurs: |
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