Thomas Duffy (musician)
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Thomas C. Duffy (born June 17, 1955) is an American conductor and composer of modern classical music.
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[edit] Conducting positions
Since 1982 Duffy has been an Adjunct Professor of Music at the Yale School of Music and the Director of Bands at Yale University. He has served as director of the Yale Concert Band, the Yale Jazz Ensemble, and the Yale Precision Marching Band.
Duffy has conducted bands and orchestras throughout the United States and Japan, England, France, Ireland, and Italy.
[edit] Education
He received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education (magna cum laude) and Master of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Connecticut, and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from Cornell University, where he studied with composers Karel Husa and Steven Stucky.
[edit] Teaching positions
He has taught music courses at the Hartford Conservatory,[1] the University of Connecticut, the Auburn Maximum Security Correctional Facility, Cornell University, and Yale University.
[edit] Composing career
Duffy's first influence, Charles Whittenberg, was hailed at one point as the primary American scion of the second Viennese school. While studying with Whittenberg, he worked in depth with serialism and the ordering of all parameters of music. Duffy was attracted to Cornell by Karel Husa's unique combination of the art of musical composition with themes of contemporary importance. He first came into contact with Husa's quarter-tones and proportional notation as an undergraduate saxophonist playing in the University of Connecticut Wind Ensemble. While at Cornell, he studied with Husa and also with Steven Stucky, from whom he contracted an interest in the music of Luigi Dallapiccola, György Ligeti, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Iannis Xenakis, and Witold Lutosławski.
Recordings and performances of Mr. Duffy's music include those by college bands, wind ensembles, and orchestras throughout the world. His music is published by American Composers Alliance, Ludwig Music and Bourne Company Music Publishers.
A list of his compositions may be seen on his web site.
[edit] Other positions
He served as Deputy Dean of the Yale School of Music from 1997 to 2005 and as Acting Dean from July 2005 through June 2006.
He has served as president of the New England College Band Association, president of Connecticut Composers Inc., publicity co-chairman for the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, chairman of the Connecticut Music Educators Association Professional Affairs and Government Relations Committees, and a member of the American Composers Alliance, BMI, and the American Bandmasters Association. Mr. Duffy served as president of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Eastern Division; he currently serves as vice president of CBDNA and will assume the association's presidency in 2009. His music is published by American Composers Alliance, Ludwig Music and Bourne Company Music Publishers. In 1996, Duffy was selected as Outstanding Music Educator of the Year by the Connecticut Music Educators Association.
[edit] Quotable quotes
"And jazz was born."
"With instruments this time."
