Charlie Griffin

Our mission is to present central Florida with exciting new music written by people who live right here in the community. That’s why we are so proud to present a new collaboration with Alterity Wind Quintet this week at Timucua! Alterity is a new chamber music collective in Orlando presenting contemporary music. Come hear brand new wind quintet music by forum members Keith Lay, Chan Ji Kim, David MacDonald, Sharon Omens, and James Croson. Alterity Wind Quintet is Carrie​ ​Wiesinger, flute; Beatriz​ ​Ramirez-Belt, oboe; Natalie​ ​Grata, clarinet; ​Kat​ ​Sleeper, bassoon; Kathy​ ​Thomas, horn

The concert begins at 7:30p, 15 October at Timucua (2000 S. Summerlin Ave.). The event is free, with a suggested donation of $10-20. Please bring food and or wine to share.

We’re very excited about our upcoming celebration of Women’s History Month. Join us for these two concerts and read on for information about the fantastic composers represented on the program

• Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts, 1905 Kentucky Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789 [BUY TICKETS HERE!]
• Friday, March 17, 2017, 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church Unity, 771 West Holden Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32839

Chan Ji Kim composes for dance, chamber ensembles, orchestra, and multimedia. Originally from Seoul, Korea, Chan Ji studied at E-wha Women’s University, New York University, and received her Ph.D. in Composition from University of Florida. Currently, she is Chair of Performing and Visual Arts Department, and Associate Professor of Music at the Eastern Florida State College. Her research and music areas of interest include collaboration between composer and choreographer, Korean folk music, and interactive electroacoustic composition.

 “Angels Watching Over Me”, “There Is An Old Lady”, “Mr. Lion” and “Lullaby” are from ChanJi Kim’s Children’s Songs, which is a collection of nine short pieces based on children’s night time stories and lullabies.

Jong means bells in Korean. I wrote Jong for fixed media for the people in Nepal who lost everything from the earthquake on April 25th in 2015. I recorded my Nepalese singing bowl bell. Nepali start the day ringing bells in the morning, a very special and important everyday routine to wake up their gods. I hope the ceremony still brings them peace in the morning.

To find out more about ChanJi Kim and her music, you can visit her website.

Sharon Omens is a composer, performer and music educator who has a deep passion for music.  After receiving her Bachelors of Music and Certificate of Music Therapy, she devoted more than 30 years training young musicians and using music as a source of healing with those in need.  She has been a spiritual performer of both piano and voice and has produced 6 albums with her original compositions.

Whimsical Rhapsody, a duet for violin and piano, is Sharon’s newest composition.  This fun and improvisational piece has one movement with two recurrent themes that have highly contrasting moods, color and tonality.  While this composition is classical in nature, there are parts that introduce undertones of dissonance creating a whimsical air.  This piece will be performed by violinist Jordan Bicasan and Sharon Omens on piano.

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Redemption is written for solo flute.  This piece was written to honor her father’s life who was a survivor of the Holocaust. The composition describes his early years in the Warsaw ghetto, the horrific events that occurred as a result of the Holocaust and finally, his ultimate redemption and success as he came to the United States, raised a family and built a successful business until his death in 2015.  “Redemption” will be performed by flutist, David Suarez.

To learn more about Sharon and her music, you can visit her website.

Originally from Miami Florida, Rebekah Todia, the youngest of five children, grew up in a house full of noise, art, and a family piano. Her father, a talented wood worker was her source of inspiration; he could carve the most beautiful sculptures from a tree trunk. Rebekah studied art at Miami Dade College, and piano performance at Rollins College. She mostly performs in the comfort of her own home, where the only audience are the eyes and ears of her beloved husband and children.

“She Walks In Beauty” is a poem written by Lord Byron (George Gordon).  Rebekah was inspired to set this poem of innocence to music!

“The Solitary” encompasses a women’s life whose love has never been discovered.  Her unique perspective through self-reflection is expressed with pivotal moments, overwhelmed by contrasting feelings of rage and adoration.  The Solitary integrates moods and emotions of considerable affection, agitation and moments of despair.  The Solitary is a dramatic art song that carries you off to the cloistered life of a woman that love has never found.  Both songs will be performed by vocalist Julie Batman and Ms. Todia will be the accompanist.

To hear more of Rebekah Todia’s music, you can visit her SoundCloud page

Bethany Borden received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Central Florida in 2003.  She enjoyed 10 years of teaching children how to experience and appreciate music as well as express themselves creatively.

In 2013, Bethany had the unique opportunity to express her musical ideas and wrote her first piece of digital music for the mobile game Stack’R.  By 2014,she quit teaching and became the audio director at Outhouse Games. She has now written music for video games and podcast themes, as well as a scored Youtube series. She use Ableton Live and Logic Pro X to compose, and has also learned to integrate music and sound effects into video games, record and edit dialogue. Technology has really opened the door for her!

She also writes her own songs and sings with her guitar at open mic nights. Recently, her song “The Best is Yet to Come” won the Director’s Award for the Nashville International Song & Lyric Writing Competition.

“Ancient Remains” is Outhouse Game’s first Virtual Reality game.  Bethany Borden’s electronic background music will be played along with a percussion ensemble (Josh Albert vibraphone, Paul Yorke glockenspiel, Theodore Jackson marimba, Matt Malhiot glockenspiel, and Devon Constanza tubular bells), while the game is being projected on a screen for the audience to see.

To listen to more of Bethany’s music, you can visit her  SoundCloud page.

Additional works that will be performed:

Phenomenal Woman, a poem written by Maya Angelou, is a powerful and affirming poem which challenges the stereotypes imposed upon women in our society.  Bethany Borden will be reciting this poem with piano accompaniment performed by Sharon Omens.

Praludium II, Op. 16 by Claire Schumann will be performed by composer and  pianist Eric Brook. 

“Between Worlds” by Anne Marie Davis and “Winter’s Tear” by Jeannie Cotter will be performed by vocalist and pianist Julie Batman.

Central Florida Composers Forum is celebrating Women’s History Month in 2017 with two concerts. Women are profoundly under-represented on concert programs around the country, and we’re doing our best to change that by showcasing some of the most talented composers in Central Florida!

Join us:

• Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts, 1905 Kentucky Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789 [BUY TICKETS HERE!]
• Friday, March 17, 2017, 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church Unity, 771 West Holden Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32839

There is some truly amazing music being written in our community every day. A compilation of original musical works will be uniquely performed by a wide variety of instruments including piano, percussion, voice, violin and flute.

This concert will uplift you in heart and soul!

Come share the creative collaboration of the spirit of women!

We’re all very excited for the concert this coming Sunday, 18 Sept, 7:30 at the Orlando white house (2000 S. Summerlin Ave.). The concert is free, but donations are accepted. And you’re encouraged to bring a bit of food or a bottle of wine to share. Here’s a little bit about the composers (listed alphabetically) and works that will be on the program:

Eric Brook is a classically trained pianist who has degrees in music composition from Oberlin Conservatory (B.M) and the University of Minnesota (M.A).  He composes music in many genres including art music, popular music, and electronic dance music. Currently, he is Course Director of “Musical Structure and Analysis” at Full Sail University in the Music Production department.

“Pristine Spark” is a violin and piano duet written and dedicated to my brother, Michael Brook, for his Master’s recital at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2013. The composition is energetic and virtuosic while utilizing minimalistic harmonic and rhythmic elements.

Orlando native Stan Cording is a long-time proponent of New Lyricism and draws upon a wide range of influences. Though he has often performed as a pianist and organist, his first love has always been composition. His works range from hymns to “I Hear America Singing” for Baritone solo, chorus and orchestra. A CD of Christmas Carols, both traditional and original, performed by string quartet, will be released later this year.

“Memento” for solo bassoon is in 3 short movements: Criolla, Interlude, and Baile.

Paul Harlyn has released 5 albums under the artist name Great Barrier whose song Cairo has achieved years of airplay on the XM Chill station. Paul writes, produces and arranges music for clients ranging from ADDY award winning radio commercials to major record label releases and remixes. These two pieces are from his upcoming 6^th release. Info: paulharlyn.com

The first piece is entitled Paseo. This multifaceted concept can represent a walk, a stroll, or even a promenade. I hope the listener will take this trip with me.

My piece Bluer Bossa is a story without words. Is it possible to transmit non-verbal communication through sound? I hope this makes you want to dance.

Chan Ji Kim composes for dance, chamber ensembles, orchestra, and multimedia. Originally from Seoul, Korea, Chan Ji studied at E-wha Women’s University, New York University, and received her Ph.D. in Composition from University of Florida. Currently, she is Chair of Performing and Visual Arts Department, and Associate Professor of Music at the Eastern Florida State College. Her research and music areas of interest include collaboration between composer and choreographer, Korean folk music, and interactive electroacoustic composition.

“Jong” means bells in Korean. I wrote Jong for fixed media for the people in Nepal who lost everything from the earthquake on April 25th in 2015. I recorded my Nepalese singing bowl bell. Nepali start the day ringing bells in the morning, a very special and important everyday routine to wake up their gods. I hope the ceremony still brings them peace in the morning.

Night Colors for solo saxophone is a collection of five short movements including Maroon, Purple, Blue, Black, and White Lullaby.

Seunghee Lee (b. 1980), a composer and a pianist, was born and raised in South Korea, where she studied composition and piano at Seoul Arts High School and Ewha Womans University. Prior to moving to Southwest Florida in 2015, Lee received a master’s degree in composition from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Ph.D. in music composition and theory from Brandeis University. Lee is a Visiting Professor of Music at Ave Maria University.

Written in 2002 and slightly revised in 2016, Five Short Songs is based on 12-tone technique, which forms the harmonic and melodic foundation of this music.  Due to the use of strict pitch-organization, there are certain melodic and/or harmonic patterns appear particularly often. The five-movement piece encourage listeners to bring their own unique perspective to the listening process.  Each movement has its own surprise, passion, and compelling quality that reveals my creative urges.

Sharon Omens is a composer, performer and music educator who has a deep passion for music.  After receiving her Bachelors of Music and Certificate of Music Therapy, she devoted more than 30 years training young musicians and using music as a source of healing with those in need.  She has been a spiritual performer of both piano and voice and has produced 6 albums with her original compositions.

“Redemption”, is Sharon’s newest original composition, written for solo flute.  The piece was written to honor her father’s life who was a survivor of the Holocaust. The composition describes his early years in the Warsaw ghetto, the horrific events that occurred as a result of the Holocaust and finally, his ultimate redemption and  success as he came to the United States, raised a family and built a successful business until his death in 2015.

Originally from Miami Florida, Rebekah Todia, the youngest of five children, grew up in a house full of noise, art, and a family piano. Her father, a talented wood worker was her source of inspiration; he could carve the most beautiful sculptures from a tree trunk. Rebekah studied art at Miami Dade College, and piano performance at Rollins College. She mostly performs in the comfort of her own home, where the only audience are the eyes and ears of her beloved husband and children.

Sun Shower Fantasy is written with the thought of two opposing forces: dark and light. We typically associate storms with heavy rainfall and dark clouds, but there is beauty hiding behind the clouds where the sun is still shining. In this piece, you can hear not only the thunder of the heavier notes and also the brightness of the lighter tones. The C# crystal singing bowl is used to bring oneness, and universal communion. Every time a sun shower is witnessed, it is always greeted with, “Oh my gosh, look! It’s a sun shower.”  It just goes to show that although the rain is falling, there is always a silver lining.