|
"Clearly knowing the power of
sonority" (Philadelphia Inquirer), the music of Baljinder Sekhon demonstrates a wide range of interests and influences.
From pieces for large ensemble to solo works to electronic music, Sekhon's music has received over 200 performances around
the world and has been described as "still and mysterious, animated, haunting and peaceful" by the Epoch Times.
In addition to his projects as a composer, he is also active as a teacher, percussionist and concert producer.
Baljinder has received numerous commissions, most recently from percussionist Michael Burritt, violist John Graham,
the Boehmler Foundation, DoublePlay Percussion Duo, and Massimo La Rosa (principal trombonist, The Cleveland Orchestra).
Last year, Sekhon was honored with a commission by the Eastman School of Music's Musica Nova ensemble for a new work for
Grammy-nominated soprano Tony Arnold. The resulting work, Post, was premiered at Eastman in 2009 under the direction
of Brad Lubman. Also at Eastman, his works have been performed by The Eastman Wind Ensemble, Eastman Philharmonia,
Composers' Sinfonietta, OSSIA New Music Ensemble, Eastman Percussion Ensemble and many soloists and chamber ensembles.
Sekhon's music has been featured at various festivals, conferences and concerts, including the MATA Interval
Series (NYC), Astral Artists Recital (Philadelphia, PA), Audio Inversions (Austin, TX), National Saxophone Alliance Conference
(Columbia, SC), International Viola Congress (Cincinnati, OH), Cabrillo Festival (Santa Cruz, CA), Bang on a Can Summer Festival
(North Adams, MA), Composers Conference at Wellesley College (North Adams, MA), f(x) Miami Music Marathon, New World Symphony's
Musician's Forum Series (Miami, FL), Syracuse Society for New Music, International Saxophone Congress (Thailand), and the
perKumania Percussion Festival (Paris Conservatory). His work Lou for solo cello and percussion quartet was recently
recorded by the McCormick Percussion Group with cellist Scott Kluksdahl and will be commercially released on Capstone Records
next year. Sheet music of Sekhon's works is available internationally and is published/distributed by Keyboard Percussion
Publications, Glass Tree Press, Steve Weiss Music (U.S.), and Southern Percussion (UK).
"Honest and energy-packed"
(Austin American-Statesman), Sekhon's works have received recognition from many prominent organizations. Recent accolades
include three Howard Hanson Orchestral Prizes, the Morton Gould Young Composer Award from ASCAP, first prize in the Brian
M. Israel and Audio Inversions Composition Competition, the Barbara B. Smith Composition Prize, Belle Gitelman Award, Percussive
Arts Society Composition Competition (2nd Prize) and honorable mention in the ASCAP/CBDNA Frederick Fennel Prize for best
new work for concert band. Baljinder's music is regularly broadcast on local and national radio stations with appearances
on radio shows such as "Fresh Ink" (Syracuse, Utica and Watertown, NY), "What In the World is Music?"
(Rochester, NY) and "Music From St. Stephen's" (WVIA, PA).
As a concert producer, curator and
promoter of new music, Baljinder constantly supports performances through the organization of various concerts and events.
Recently named a curator for the MATA Interval Series 3.2 concert, Sekhon produced a full concert of new works for Saxophone
Quartet and Electronics at the ISSUE Project Room in Brooklyn, NY. This concert titled "poweRed Line" featured
the Red Line Sax Quartet in the world premieres of works by Andy Akiho, Andrew Colella, Matthew Barber, Robert Pierzak and
Sekhon. A year earlier, Baljinder produced a concert at John Zorn's contemporary art space "The Stone" in
New York City which featured many performers from Rochester, NY and NYC in the performance of eight works by Sekhon and
others. In addition, he served as President of the highly regarded OSSIA New Music Ensemble at the Eastman School
and co-producer/sound designer for countless electronic music concerts sponsored by the Eastman Computer Music Center.
Baljinder has appeared as a percussionist across the United States and abroad with recent performances alongside
world-renowned violist John Graham in the performance of Compass for viola and percussion. Following a three-night
premiere of Compass at the Rochester Contemporary Arts Center (December 2009), Sekhon and Graham will be performing together
at Gallery 345 in Toronto, ON (Canada). Sekhon also performed as a member of the Foundry Ensemble during the Bang
On a Can Marathon in the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center in New York City and as a member of the Eastman Broadband
Ensemble at the Festival Spazio Musica in Cagliari, Italy. In addition, he has been heard throughout the north/southeast
as a member of various rock and hip hop bands and with several orchestras including the South Carolina Philharmonic, Augusta
Symphony, Long Bay Symphony, Eastman Philharmonia and an original performing member of the award winning Southern Exposure
Series (Columbia, SC).
Currently, Sekhon teaches Introduction to Computer Music II and Basics of Orchestration
at the Eastman School of Music where he is completing a PhD in Composition. He also serves as the instructor for Electronic
Music at the Eastman Community Music School where he has designed and implemented a new music technology program.
Previously, he has taught Composition for Non-Majors and Computer Notation/Calligraphy at Eastman and has taught composition
and percussion masterclasses at numerous public schools along the east coast. He holds an MA in Composition from the
Eastman School and a BM in Music Theory/Composition from the University of South Carolina. His composition teachers
have included Mario Davidovsky, David Liptak, Robert Morris, John Fitz Rogers, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Allan Schindler,
Yehudi Wyner, and Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon. To stay updated on Baljinder's activities, join the mailing list HERE.
|
