Sean Friar

Sean Friar
Born	1985 (age 30–31) Los Angeles, CA
Genres	Contemporary classical, Avant-garde music, Experimental
Occupation(s)	Composer
Instruments	Pianist
Years active	2000-present
Labels	New Amsterdam Records, Innova Recordings
Website	www.seanfriar.com

Sean Friar (born 1985 in Los Angeles, California) is an American composer and pianist. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.^[1]

Biography

Sean Friar was born and raised in Los Angeles. He studied Music Composition and Psychology at UCLA before moving to New Jersey in 2007 for doctoral work in Composition at Princeton University. His primary teachers were Paul Chihara, Paul Lansky, Steven Mackey, and Dmitri Tymoczko.

Friar has been commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Ensemble Modern, New World Symphony, Alarm Will Sound, American Composers Orchestra, NOW Ensemble, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Present Music, and the Scharoun Ensemble of the Berlin Philharmonic. Other performers of his music include So Percussion, Ensemble Klang, Crash Ensemble, Psappha New Music Ensemble, Alter Ego (Musikensemble), Ensemble Argento, and many others.

Friar is the recipient of the 2011 Rome Prize in Music Composition.^[2] He is on the Music Composition faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music.

Concert Works

Friar's music is known for its propulsive energy,^[3] adventurous orchestration,^[4] and sense of humor.^[5]

Large Ensemble 2009 "Out of Line" for chamber orchestra 2011 "Clunker Concerto" for percussion quartet on junk car parts and chamber orchestra 2013 "Noise Gate" for orchestra 2013 "In the Blue" for sinfonietta 2015 "Finding Time" for sinfonietta Solo Music 2007 "Elastic Loops" for solo piano 2010 "Teaser" for solo cello 2010 "Oboemobo" for solo oboe and effects pedals 2012 "Wind-up Etude" for solo piano Chamber Music 2006 "Hell-Bent" for violin, cello, and piano 2008 "Little Green Pop" for two saxophones, trombone, electric guitar, piano, percussion, and sound engineer 2008 "String Quartet" 2009 "Velvet Hammer" for flute, clarinet, electric guitar, piano, and bass 2009 "Scale 9" for clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion (also versions with flute and viola) 2010 "Fighting Words" for soprano, clarinet, electric guitar, violin, cello, percussion, drum kit, and piano 2010 "Short Winds" for woodwind quintet (alternate version for saxophone quartet) 2012 "One-Way Trip" for clarinet, horn, two violins, viola, cello, bass, and piano 2012 "Etude for English Horn and Prepared Piano" for English horn and prepared piano 2013 "Breaking Point" for clarinet, trumpet, electric guitar, two violins, viola, cello, bass, percussion, and piano 2014 "Two Solitudes" for flute, viola, and harp 2014 "Four Streets" for percussion quartet Electronic 2008 "Boomdinger" for percussion quartet and laptop orchestra. (Collaboration with composer, Cameron Britt.)

Awards

• 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 Morton Gould Young Composer Award^[6]
• 2008 Lee Ettelson Award^[7]
• 2009 Aaron Copland House Residency ^[8]
• 2011 Rome Prize^[9]
• 2011 Finalist for Gaudeamus Prize ^[10]
• 2012 Charles Ives Prize^[11]
• 2012 Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grant^[12]
• 2013 Fromm Foundation Commission^[13]

Recordings

• 2011 – "Velvet Hammer" with NOW Ensemble on "Change" (New Amsterdam Records)
• 2012 – "Teaser" with Mariel Roberts on "nonextraneous sounds" Innova Recordings

References

1. "Sean Friar". Philipedia. LA Phil. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
2. "American Academy in Rome Announces 2011-12 Rome Prize Winners". NewMusicBox.
3. Schneider, John (28 May 2013). "PRESENT MUSIC'S MULTITUDE of Great Performances". EXPRESS Milwaukee. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
4. Lowder, Bryan (19 July 2011). "Horns, harps and hubcaps: The classical orchestra needs some new instruments". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
5. Sheridan, Molly (15 January 2013). "Sounds Heard: Mariel Roberts – Nonextraneous Sounds". New Music Box. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
6. "The 2007 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composers Awards". ASCAP. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
7. [http://www.composersinc.org/ettelson.html / "Lee Ettelson Award"] Check |url= value (help). Composers Inc. Retrieved 17 May 2015. line feed character in |url= at position 42 (help)
8. http://www.coplandhouse.org/composers/now-at-copland-house/copland-house-residency-awards/
9. http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/American-Academy-in-Rome-Announces-201112-Rome-Prize-Winners/}
10. http://www.ecpnm.com/news/38/nominees_selected_for_the_gaudeamus_prize_2011
11. "The Charles Ives Awards". American Academy of Arts and Letters. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
12. "Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grant". Chamber Music America. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
13. "ASCAP Members Selected for 2013 Fromm Music Foundation Commissions". ASCAP. Retrieved 17 May 2015.

External links

• official website.