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| DBR appointed visiting professor at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music Nationally hailed composer, performer, violinist, bandleader and Vanderbilt alumnus Daniel Bernard Roumain ( known professionally as DBR ) has been appointed visiting associate professor of composition for the 2009-2010 academic year at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music. Throughout the year, he will make multiple visits and offer tailor-made classes and workshops in extended performance techniques, composition, performative coaching and more. DBR has become famous for his crossing of hip-hop with classical music. He recently appeared on American Idol with pop star Lady Gaga to perform her hit song "Poker Face, " which he helped to arrange. He was also nominated for a Sports Emmy Award in the spring of 2009 for Outstanding Musical Composition for his score of the episode "Homeless Basketball" for ESPN's new show E:60. "This is a signal event in the evolution of the Blair School, as an alumnus who has attained the national renown as a performer and composer returns to teach another generation of classical music artists at Vanderbilt, " noted Mark Wait, dean of Blair. "Our students are immensely fortunate that DBR is available for this teaching appointment." DBR's residency dates at the Blair School are scheduled for Sept. 10-14; Oct. 14-19; Jan. 24-28; March 10-13; and April 19-22. The October residency will take place in connection with DBR's performance for Vanderbilt's Great Performances Series on Saturday, Oct. 17, in Blair's Ingram Hall. Blair students and faculty will perform with DBR for this concert. Ticket information for this concert is at www.vanderbilt/edu.greatperformances. As a composer, DBR's works range from orchestral scores and chamber pieces to music for film, the theater, modern dance and electronica. His latest orchestral work and second commission from the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Darwin's Meditation for The People of Lincoln, is a musical setting of a pocket play by Daniel Beaty that explores an imagined conversation between Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln, and the political relationship between England, North America and Haiti. DBR has also composed music for Daniel Beaty's play Resurrection directed by Oz Scott and two soon-to-be released documentary films, Off and Running by Nicole Opper and Strange Things by Alexandria Hammond. From Australia's Sydney Opera House to Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, DBR continues to premiere and perform solo and chamber works off of his debut international solo album etudes4violin&electronix ( Thirsty Ear Recordings ) in a worldwide tour with Elan Vytal a.k.a. DJ Scientific. Described as a "demonstration of unquestionable virtuosity and commitment to the violin's expressivity" ( All About Jazz ), the album showcases a unified dialogue between DBR and artists from today's contemporary musical landscape including Philip Glass, Ryuichi Sakamoto, DJ Spooky, and DJ Scientific. As bandleader of DBR & THE MISSION, a young, multicultural ensemble, he presents an electrifying show described as "an evening of chamber music with the accessible feel of a rock concert" ( Albany Times-Union ). Touring nationwide since 2004, DBR & THE MISSION made its international debut at Australia's 2008 Adelaide Festival. DBR serves as artist-in-residence of the Seattle Theater Group and as music director of Seattle's More Music @ The Moore program for the third consecutive year. Additional positions have included: chair of composition/theory at the Harlem School of the Arts; The Van Lier Composer-in-Residence with the American Composers Orchestra; artist-in-residence at Arizona State University ( 2003-2006 ); assistant composer-in-residence at the Orchestra of St. Luke's and founder of the OSL's Young Composers Development Program; music director of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company; and Rankin Scholar-in-Residence at Drexel University. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |