Thomas Sleeper

Thomas M. Sleeper (born February 16, 1956) is a modern American composer and conductor. His music has been described as 'hauntingly mysterious' and 'richly lyrical'.^[1] He is currently the Director of Orchestral Activities and Conductor of the University of Miami Frost Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theater. He is also the director of the Florida Youth Orchestra.

History

Sleeper was born in Oklahoma. He received his Bachelor of Music at the University of Texas, and subsequently received his Master of Music at Southern Methodist University, where he studied under Daryl F. Rauscher of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and James Rives-Jones. From 1975 -1978, while in Austin, Sleeper was active with an Avant-gard group of composer/performers called "Fermata". As a member of "Fermata" he worked with composers such as Jerry Willingham, Jerry Hunt and Robert Xavier Rodriguez. At 22 years of age Sleeper was appointed Associate Conductor of the Dallas Civic Symphony. Following his conducting stint with the Dallas Civic Symphony, Sleeper began to compose many pieces of music including, but not limited to, operas, concerti, symphonies, solo and chamber music.

He is a frequent guest conductor all over the world and has performed with ensembles such as the Central Philharmonic of China, Argentina's San Juan Symphony Orchestra, and Bulgaria's Ruse State Philharmonic. In addition, he was named the Artistic Advisor of the China-Wuhan Symphony in 1993.^[2] Sleeper is an advocate of new music, and has commissioned and conducted the premiers of works of composers including Thomas Ludwig, Henry Brant, Carlos Surinach, Robert Xavier Rodriguez.^[3] He currently lives in Miami, Florida, and is on the faculty of the University of Miami.

Notable works

• PARALLAX, for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble written for and premiered by Timothy Shade, Wichita , Kansas, September 2011
• Parallages, for solo piano, written for Greek pianist Zoe Zeniodi. Premiered in the Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival on Crete, June 25, 2011
• '"'Through a Glass Darkly" for Soprano and Orchestra, written for soprano Irini Kyriakidou , conductor Zoe Zeniodi and the Broward Symphony Orchestra. Premiered in Bailey Hall on February 26, 2011
• Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra", written for and premiered by Dale Underwood with the Florida Youth Orchestra, Zoe Zeniodi, conductor in Bailey Hall, November, 2010 and in the chamber version for 9 instruments with Ensemble 21 under the direction of Zoe Zeniodi, February 23, 2011
• XENIA for Tenor and Orchestra", based on texts by Jane Alison from her novel The Love Artist. Premiered by John Duykers and the Frost Symphony Orchestra with conductor Zoe Zeniodi in Gusman Hall on February 20, 2010
• Translucence for Trombone and Orchestra, premiered by Timothy Conner and the Frost Symphony Orchestra with conductor Zoe Zeniodi in Gusman Hall on March 7, 2009
• String Quartet No. 3, written for and premiered by the Delray String Quartet, February 2009
• The Sisters Antipodes, a short opera written in conjunction with Australian author, Jane Alison and visual artist Sherri Tan, premiered November 2009
• Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, premiered by Jillian Bloom at Carnegie Hall on March 23, 2008
• Concerto for Trumpet, premiered by Craig Morris, former Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• String Quartet No. 2, "Bergonzi", written for the famed Bergonzi String Quartet
• Aceldama: Field of Blood, an Opera performed across the world
• Symphony No. 1, premiered by the Meadows Symphony Orchestra in Dallas, Paul Phillips, conductor
• Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, written for bassoonist Kathryn Sleeper
• Adagio for Orchestra
• Piano Concerto No. 2, premiered by pianist Justin Blasdale
• One Water (documentary), documentary film score

Discography

• Sleeper: Symphony No. .1, XENIA, Six Arias for Cello and Orchestra, Albany Records 2010 (TROY 1212), Thomas M. Sleeper (composer)
• Maslanka, Sleeper: Reflections: Concerto for Trumpet, NAXOS Records 2007, Thomas M. Sleeper (composer)
• Rodríguez: Works For Chorus And Orchestra, Albany Records 2001, Thomas M. Sleeper (conductor)
• Surinach: Symphonic Melismas, Double Concerto, Etc , Centaur Records 1996, (conductor)
• Aceldama, Albany Records, (composer, conductor)
• Ticheli, Van Der Slice, Sleeper: Orchestral Works, Albany Records, (composer, conductor)
• Finzi, Brahms, R. Strauss, Centaur Records, (conductor)^[4]

External links

• http://www.sleepermusic.com/index.html

References