California Symphony Keeps Programming Alive Following Earlier Shakeup

Continuing a tradition created by its founding music director Barry Jekowsky, the California Symphony has named its newest Young Composer-in-Residence. 

D.J. Sparr will have the opportuninity to work with the Walnut Creek's professional symphony orchestra for two years, creating new works and enjoying the chance to have these works performed by the critically acclaimed music group. 

The symphony named Sparr on the eve of its 25th anniversay season. Sparr is the sixth composer to receive this esteemed honor in the classical music world since the California Symphony created this program, one of the only kind in the country, in 1994.  

The news comes two months 39, as the new executive director. The job had been vacant for more than a year. Sparr's appointment   the company's founding music director who helped create the composer in residence program

Although this Young Composer in Residence program labels the recpients "young," Sparr is no rookie in the classical music world. In a press release, the California Symphony described Sparr as a "prolific American composer and guitarist trained in a striking variety of musical styles."

He received his bachelor's degree in music from the Eastman School of Music and his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Michingan. He is also a graduate of the Baltimore School of the Arts. His composition teachers include Pulitzer Prize winners William Bolcom, Christopher Rouse, and Joseph Schwantner.

He has performed with the Fondazione Arturo Toscanini, Eastman’s “Musica Nova” Contemporary Music Ensemble, pop bands, and as a studio musician. His music has been performed, premiered and commissioned by various ensembles, including the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Albany SymphonyOrchestra, the Dayton Philharmonic, and even Jay Leno's the “Late Show” band.

Prior to being named to this residency, Sparr was the composer-in-residence with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra's education and community engagement department.  

“[Sparr's] work is refreshing, alternative, and exciting," said Walter Collins, the newly appointed executive director of the California Symphony. "We know our audiences will be intrigued to follow along as he creates new works and unveils them for us. D. J. represents the ideal choice for this program—he is an emerging American composer who is already garnering top international awards.

In this position, Sparr will be involved in educational programs in the schools and community at large, visiting local schools to discuss the ideas and changes surrounding the commission and to work with composition students.  Students and teachers will be invited to attend three reading rehearsals and a world premier of one of his works. 

Of the six composers who have participated in the symphony’s Young Composer in Residence program,  the first three have each won the prestigious Rome Prize for Composition. Two of these went on to win the BBC International Masterprize competition. The 1994-96 resident composer, Christopher Theofanidis, is a now a Grammy-nominated and multiple award-winning composer,  whose first full-length opera has been commissioned by the San Francisco Opera and will premiere there in 2011.

The 2010-2011 California Symphony season continues with a concert May 1. For additional information, visit www.californiasymphony.org.