Composers in the Schools

“...commitment to educating the public about new music…”
—Journal of Musicology, 1986

Composers in the Schools, an outreach program designed to give student composition majors first-hand experience observing and writing for public school ensembles, was launched during the winter semester 1997 at Bowling Green State University’s College of Musical Arts. The five student participants were graduate composition majors. They weekly observed an ensemble on the junior high or high school level and met in seminar with Samuel Adler and/or Marilyn Shrude. Private meetings were arranged as needed. Each participant kept a journal, produced a new work for their particular ensemble and often conducted rehearsals of the same. Matthew Herman’s Three Irish Folk Songs were performed by the Bowling Green High School Madrigal Singers on their tour to Ireland and on three Bowling Green concerts in March and April.

BGSU Faculty

• Dr. Samuel Adler
• Dr. Marilyn Shrude

BG City Schools Faculty

• James Brown, HS Madrigal Singers
• Bruce Corrigan, JH Band
• Karen Hann, HS Band
• Thomas Headley, HS Band
• Pamela Thiel, HS Orchestra

BGSU Student Composers

• Jennifer Furr, JH Band
• Stephen Grieco, HS Band
• Matthew Herman, BGHS Madigal Singers
• Christopher Scinto, HS Band

Works Completed

• Winter Sun for concert band – Jennifer Furr
• Final Moments for band – Stephen Grieco
• Shadows and Light for string Orchestra – Matthew Harder
• Three Irish Folk Songs for SATB chorus – Matthew Herman
• Inside the Blue for band – Christopher Scinto