Composer/Lecturer/Master Classes
Mary Jeanne Van Appledorn, a native of Holland, Michigan, is Paul Whitfield Horn Professor of Music in Composition and theory at Texas Tech University. She earned the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Ph. D. Degrees at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music.
Her choral composition Les Hommes vides (based on T. S. Eliot’s poem The Hollow Men, with French translation by Pierre Leyris) in 1994 was performed at the Esther Boyer College of Music, Temple University (Philadelphia), and by the Texas Tech University Choir, Dr. Kenneth Davis, conductor.
She was commissioned by the University of Central Arkansas (Conway) to compose Cycles of Moons and Tides for symphonic band, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Tau Beta Sigma, and the work was premiered at UCA in April 1995. Dr. Van Appledorn was the featured artist for the Meet the Composer series at the Bloomingdale House of Music in New York City on May 1995, and her Duos for viola and violoncello received a New York premiere during the same month.
In July and August of 1995 her Terrestrial Music, a double concerto in five movements for violin, piano and string orchestra, was a featured work performed by the New York Inoue Chamber Ensemble with the Oberlin Conservatory String Orchestra for the Third International Peace Concert Tour in Japan, Hawaii, and Seattle.
Dr. Van Appledorn’s Cycles of Moons and Tides was recorded by the Texas Tech Symphonic Band under the direction of James Sudduth, and will soon be released on compact disc by Opus One. Cycles and Trio Italiano have been accepted for publication by Southern Music Company of San Antonio.
Her compositional credits and orchestra, recorded on the Contemporary Record Society label, Concerto Brevis, National Festival Orchestra with Susan Blinderman, piano and Missa Brevis with Millie Hagemeier, soprano and Judson D. Maynard, organ, (CD 9052); Celliano Rhapsody with Arthur Follows, cello and Mary J. Van Appledorn, piano (CRS8530); Sonic Mutation Harp Solo with Gail Barber, harpist (CRS 8741); Missa Brevis for Trumpet & Organ with Robert Birch, trumpet and Carol Feather Martin, organ (CRS8842); Cornucopia for solo Trumpet with Richard Tolley, trumpet (CD9153); Ayre for Strings with the Chamber Art Soloists, John Russo conductor, CD 9257 among other recordings.
Awards and honors of Dr. Van Appledorn include the Delta Kappa Gamma International scholarship, 1959-60; induction into the Hall of Fame of Texas Composers, 1973; Premier Prix, World Carillon Federation, Dijon, France (Suite for Carillon, 1980); Texas Composers’ Guild awards for Matrices, 1980, and Four Duos for viola and violoncello, 1987; Virginia College Band Directors National Association awards for Cacophony, 1981 and Lux: Legend of Sankta Lucia, 1982; Outstanding Researcher Award, Texas Tech University, 1982; IX Premio Ancona, Italy, for Liquid Gold, 1986; Tau Beta Sigma Outstanding Service to Music Award, 1981; and the National Council of Alpha Chi Omega’s Award of Achievement, 1988.
Additionally, the composer has received seventeen consecutive ASCAP Standard Panel Awards. Dr. Van Appledorn’s compositions are published by Oxford University Press, Vivace Press, Carl Fischer, Inc., Galaxy Music Corporation, Dorn Publications, Arsis Press, and American Carillon Music Editions.
Her compositions have been recorded by Opus One, Northeastern Records, Vienna Modern Masters, Century Records, Golden Crest, Contemporary Recording Studios (CRS Artists) and the Contemporary Record Society.
Dr. Van Appledorn’s catalog of music and recordings appears on the World Wide Web site of the American Music Center, New York City, and may be accessed at: http://www.amc.net/amc/member/Mary-van-Appledorn.
A master class/lecture or performance of her music can be arranged by contacting the CRS Artists, at this Web site by e-mailing crsnews@verizon.net