Garrett Byrnes (born December 30, 1971) is an American
composer.
Byrnes was born in
Bad Kreuznach,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
while his father was stationed at the U.S. Army Base there, and relocated to
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
in the United States. He studied music composition, receiving his bachelor's degree from the
Boston Conservatory
Boston Conservatory at Berklee (formerly The Boston Conservatory) is a private performing arts conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, music, and theater.
Boston Conservatory was founded ...
, his master's degree from the
Peabody Institute
The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University is a private conservatory and preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded in 1857 and opened in 1866 by merchant/financier and philanthropist George Peabody (1795–1869) ...
of the
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hemisphere. It consi ...
, and his doctorate from the
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Since embarking on his professional career, Byrnes has worked with numerous performers both in the United States and abroad. His music has been read and performed by ensembles including the
Minnesota Orchestra,
Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire,
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) is an American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The largest performing arts organization in Indiana, the orchestra is based at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis on Monument Ci ...
, Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, Chesapeake Youth Repertory Orchestra, Peabody Symphony and Concert orchestras, Indiana University New Music Ensemble, Cleveland Chamber Collective, Tarab Cello Ensemble, and Tonus Percussion Group. Byrnes' orchestral music in particular is currently gaining wider recognition. In 2004 the Indiana University New Music Ensemble premiered his Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra. Later that same year his work "Red Moon" was premiered in California after receiving the
Northridge Prize for orchestral composition. On December 1, 2006, conductor
Osmo Vänskä
Osmo Antero Vänskä (born 28 February 1953) is a Finnish conductor, clarinetist, and composer.
Biography
Vänskä started his musical career as an orchestral clarinetist with the Turku Philharmonic (1971–76). He then became the principal cla ...
lead the Minnesota Orchestra in the world premiere of "Solace". In 2008, renowned French Cellist
Xavier Phillips
Xavier Phillips (born 1971 in Paris) is a French contemporary classical cellist, the brother of violinist Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian.
Biography
Xavier Phillips started learning the cello at the age of 6. He entered the Conservatoire de Par ...
premiered "La Chapelle d'Aiguilhe: Concerto for Cello & Orchestra" with the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire under conductor Sascha Goetzel.
Byrnes has taught composition at
Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockford ...
as adjunct assistant professor of composition, at
Indiana University
Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana.
Campuses
Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI.
*Indiana Universi ...
as associate instructor of composition, and at
Ball State University as assistant professor of composition and theory. He has studied composition with
Sven-David Sandström,
Chen Yi Chen Yi may refer to:
* Xuanzang (602–664), born as Chen Yi, Chinese Buddhist monk in Tang Dynasty
* Chen Yi (Kuomintang)
Chen Yi (; courtesy names Gongxia (公俠) and later Gongqia (公洽), sobriquet Tuisu (退素); May 3, 1883 – June ...
, Don Freund, David Dzubay, and
Larry Bell. In addition to awards from the
American Music Center
New Music USA is a new music organization formed by the merging of the American Music Center with Meet The Composer on November 8, 2011. The new organization retains the granting programs of the two former organizations as well as two media progr ...
, National Association of Composers,
ASCAP, USA International Harp Composition Competition,
California State University, Northridge, Indiana University, Boston Conservatory and others, Byrnes has received fellowships from the artist retreat organizations
Yaddo
Yaddo is an artists' community located on a estate in Saratoga Springs, New York. Its mission is "to nurture the creative process by providing an opportunity for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment.". On March  ...
and the
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
Byrnes' harp works have been recorded on th
Channel Classicsand
Kalan Müzik recording labels. His viola works have been recorded on th
Arabesque Recordslabel.
Major works
*Capriccio Improvviso (15', 2013)
Viola & Piano
Commissioned by and dedicated to Maggie Snyder through the generosity of the University of Georgia's Willson Center Grant for the Humanities
*Leeds Devil Nocturne (12', 2012)
Flute (optional piccolo) & Piano
Commissioned by the Cleveland Chamber Collective and written for Mary Kay Fink and Nicholas Underhill
*Valley of Butterflies (15', 2011)
Harp solo, 5 movements
*Capriccio Tempestoso (10', 2010)
Orchestra: 2-1-2-1; 2-2-2-1; timp, perc (1); solo harp; strings
*Devil in Moscow (15', 2009)
A Fantastical Character Suite for Viola & Harpsichord
Commissioned by Maggie Snyder and Alexandra Snyder Dunbar through the generosity of the West Virginia University Foundation
*La Chapelle d'Aiguilhe: Concerto for Cello & Orchestra (18', 2008)
Orchestra: 2-2-2-2; 2-2-0-0; timp.; solo cello; strings
Commissioned for Xavier Phillips and the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire
*Mosaics (for wind quintet, 8', 2008)
Commissioned by the Alpha Lambda chapter of
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America (colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Mu Alpha, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music. The fraternity is open to men "w ...
fraternity of Illinois Wesleyan University
*Villanelle (for violin and harp, 15', 2006)
Commissioned for
and Tjeerd Top.
*Solace (17’, 2005)
Orchestra: 3-3-3-3; 4-3-3-1; timp., 3 perc., pno./cel., harp, strings
*Concerto for Piano & Chamber Orchestra (15’, 2003)
Piano Solo & Chamber Orchestra: 1111; 1111; 2 perc, hp, 2111
Commissioned by the Indiana University New Music Ensemble
*Persist (13’, 2003)
For eight cellos
Commissioned by Florent Renard-Payen and the Tarab Cello Ensemble
*Triptyclysm (16’, 2002)
For percussion trio
Commissioned by Tonus Percussion Group
*Songs of the Sea (15’, 2001)
Tenor & Piano, 5 movements
*Visions in Twilight (8’, 2000)
Harp solo
Written for
Fatma Ceren Necipoğlu
Available from
Lyon & Healy
Lyon & Healy Harps, Inc. is an American musical instrument manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois and is a subsidiary of Salvi Harps. Today best known for concert harps, the company's Chicago headquarters and manufacturing facility contains a ...
West
*The Flames of Imbolc (12', 1999)
Orchestra: 3-3-3-3; 4-3-3-1; timp., 3 perc.; strings
External links
GarrettByrnes.com Byrnes' home site, with list of works and other pertinent information.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrnes, Garrett
1971 births
Living people
20th-century classical composers
21st-century classical composers
American male classical composers
American classical composers
Boston Conservatory at Berklee alumni
Peabody Institute alumni
Jacobs School of Music alumni
Illinois Wesleyan University faculty
Indiana University faculty
Ball State University faculty
21st-century American composers
20th-century American composers
20th-century American male musicians
21st-century American male musicians