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"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dream"
— Arthur O'Shaunessey
TODD GOODMAN has been discribed as "one of America's promising young composers." His work has been played by principle members of the Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston, Singapore and Seattle Symphonies. Mr. Goodman receives commissions from a wide variety of players and ensembles across the United States. With many performances in the United States his works have also been performed in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Goodman currently serves as the resident composer for the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra writing his Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra [2007] and the Beaver Valley Philharmonic who is set to premiere his Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra [2008] in April of 2008. Prior to these appointments, Mr. Goodman served as the Altoona Symphony Orchestra’s composer-in-residence from 2002-2005 during which time he was commissioned eight works; including his Symphony No.1 “Fields of Crimson” [2003], Fanfare for a New Era [2003] Some Assembly Required [2004] and Sketches of Home [2005]. He feels that the audience connection and participation in his music is vital to its success. He wants people to leave a concert feeling that they experienced a work rather than just observing.
Todd Goodman was born in Bedford, Pennsylvania in 1977. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in composition at the University of Colorado at Boulder and his Masters of Music degree in composition at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Currently working on a Ph.D. in theory and composition at Kent State University, he has also studied at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, France, with the European American Musical Alliance and at the Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado. His principal composition teachers have been David Stock, George Tsontakis, Richard Toensing and Louis Jorge Gonzalez.
In September 2006, Mr. Goodman was appointed as resident composer for the newly built Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland, Pennsylvania. He also serves on the facuty of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School where he teaches musicianship and composition to some of Pennsylvania's finest young musicians.
Mr. Goodman has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts for his work with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra as well as grants from the University of Colorado Entrepreneurship Center for his work, Symphony No. 1 “Fields of Crimson”. Mr. Goodman has also won such notable prizes as the international project piccolo rebirth 2007 prize for his work Echos: prelude and dance [2007] for piccolo and piano, the prestigious Gold Farbe award from the University of Colorado film department for his scores to two short films Hypnotic Reverie and Light Autumn by writer/director Ryan McVeigh. As well as the 1998 and 1999 Anderson Award for composition and the Milan Desi Derri prize for his Concerto for Alto Saxophone [2005].
The world premiere of his Symphony No. 1 “Fields of Crimson” was released on CD through Wrong Note Media in July 2003, marking the 140th anniversary of the subject of this work, the battle of Gettysburg. This work has been very well received throughout the United States and Europe. In late-2007 the Duquesne Wind Ensemble will release a recording of Mr. Goodman's River of Sorrows along with other works by David Stock and Indiana University composer Don Freund.
Mr. Goodman's current commissions include Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra commissioned by Bruce Lauffer and the Beaver Valley Philharmonic which will be premiered on April 17, 2008 and Mass for a Time of War for the Beaver Valley Philharmonic for the orchestras 2009-2010 season and Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra for Pittsburgh Symphony principal oboist, Cynthia Koledo De Almeida and the Beaver Valley Philharmonic.
Mr. Goodman now resides in Midland, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Katie, sons Emmerson and Foster, and their St. Bernard "Doc". |
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