Contemporary Composer

Posted on October 2, 2021

Hello and thanks for visiting my site!

You can contact me at richardpressley@gmail.com.  If you are interested in performing a work of mine or having me write a work for you, please email me at the link above.  I am happy to send along pdfs of scores and mp3 of recordings for your consideration.

Be sure to listen to some of my new recordings on my LISTEN page at the link to the right  ———————————————————–>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>)

October 2, 2021

These have been strange times since I last posted two and a half years ago in May 2019!  Yes, too long ago!  Many apologies!

Despite all that has happened and is happening, I have still been able to stay productive as a composer, musician, and instructor, and can happily report the notable recent performances and publications below.  As always, I will bring you up to date in reverse chronological order, starting with what is upcoming. 

CD RELEASES!  I have been privileged to have had multiple pieces released on CD in the last two years.

My work, Rémiges, for alto flute and alto saxophone, is going to be included on the upcoming Phasma CD, MEM, later this year.

My pieces, Intarsia and Quipu, for bass flute and bass clarinet, was included on Phasma CD, LAMEDH, just released this month, September 2021.  This release was awarded Clouzine International Music Awards’ Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Fall 2019.  Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

Irmos (Lament for Antoniou), my work for bass flute, was included on Phasma CD, Lament for Theodore Antoniou, Vol.3, in January 2021.  This 3 release set of laments for the recent passing of composer Theodore Antoniou was awarded Akademia Music Awards’ Best Classical Album and Academia Music Awards’  Music Award of Excellence in February 2021.  It was also awarded Clouzine International Music Awards’ Best Experimental/Avantgarde Album in April 2021.  Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

String Quartet #1 was included on Phasma CD, New Music For String Quartet, Vol.3 in December 2020.  This release was awarded the Global Music Award Outstanding Achievement — Silver Medal in January 2021.  Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

Dornenlied II, for flute and string trio, was included on Phasma CD, TETH in December 2020.  Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

Glysmëhije, for flute and harp, was included on Phasma CD, YODH in December 2020.  Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

Upcoming Performances:

Lontano, a new work for solo trumpet, was requested by Abby Jones, and will be premiered by her at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC, in Spring 2022 (date TBD).

Haecceitas for guitar solo, is slated to be performed in March 2022 in Indiana (date and location TBA)..

Cantus (Hommage á Messiaen) for piano solo, requested by pianist Brianna Jaeger, is scheduled to be premiered by her later this year (date and location TBA).

Recent Performances and Recognitions:

Tau (flute and trombone) was presented in video performance at the Fall 2021 Faculty Showcase Concert at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC, on September 17, 2021.  Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

Irmos II (bass flute) was a winning work in the 2021 Vox Novus 15 Minutes of Fame Call for Scores for Low Flutes, and premiered livestream by Lisa Cella as part of her Low Flutes Project at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, on March 27, 2021.  Be sure to listen to her performance on my “LISTEN” page.  Here is a link to the entire concert, which is absolutely fantastic: https://vimeo.com/523402976/5c10e3ebd6

Tau (flute and trombone) was a winning work in the 2020 Penn State New Music Festival Call for Scores, and livestreamed in video performance at the (online) festival on March 19, 2021. Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

Haecceitas (guitar solo) was a winning work in the 2019 University of South Florida, but that was cancelled due to all the lockdown restrictions.  However, the festival persevered and presented virtually last Spring, and Haecceitas was premiered livestreamed in video performance by Erol Ozsever at the 2020 International New Music Festival Virtual Concert #3 on March 6, 2021.  Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

I had a premiere in Mexico!  I Will Betroth You to Me (SMsA choir) was one of two winning works in the international 2020 Festival Expresiones Contemporáneas Call for Scores for Women’s Choir and given its premiere by the Ensamble Da Gunaá at the 2020 Festival Expresiones Contemporáneas in Mexico City on December 11, 2020 (livestreamed video performance).  Here is a link to the performance: (starts at 43:55)  https://fb.watch/8lHprOzPY4/  Or you can listen to the piece on my LISTEN page!

I Will Betroth You to Me was presented in open rehearsal by the CSU Concert Singers in the Lightsey Chapel Portico at Charleston Southern University, Charleston, SC, on November 25, 2020.

Dornenlied II (flute, violin, viola, ‘cello) was video premiered at the Kwidzyn International Music Festival II Cycle at St. Trinity Church in Kwidzyn, Poland, on September 30, 2020 (livestreamed video performance). Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

Spe (euphonium and vibraphone) was a selected work in the 2020 Moreau VanTuinen Duo Call for Scores for Tuba/Euphonium and Percussion and presented in livestream performance on the Miniature Matinee No.7 by the Moreau VanTuinen Duo in Gainesville, FL, on July 12, 2020.

Tau was also a winning work in the 2019 College Music Society Northeast Conference Call for Scores and performed there by Lisa Cella and Patrick Crossland at Temple University, in Philadelphia, PA, on March 8, 2020. Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

Sashinobe for three unspecified performers was performed by the Etymos Ensemble at the Teatro Comunale Cristoforo Colombo in Lucca, Italy on December 8, 2019.

the flattery of fire (four unspecified performers) was performed by the Red Noise New Music Ensemble, at Otterbein University in Westerville, OH, on November 17, 2019.

Tau (flute and trombone) was a winning work in the West Fork New Music Festival and premiered at the festival by Lisa Cella and Patrick Crossland at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV, on September 27, 2019. Be sure to listen on my LISTEN page!

the flattery of fire (four unspecified performers) was a winning work in the 2019 Concept:Collaboration Call for Scores and performed by the Concept Ensemble at the MetroArts Theatre in Brisbane, Australia, on August 18, 2019.

PRESENTATIONS!:

Elijah and the prophets of Baal in Mendelssohn’s Elijah‘ was presented twice at Harvest Community School on November 21, 2019, in Summerton, SC.

I gave five one-hour presentations on Music Theory and Music History Topics (1 presentation each day) at the Charleston Southern University Summer Music Camp, June 24-28, 2019, Charleston, SC.

I gave two one-hour presentations on ’Structural Formal Processes in select Chopin Preludes,’ to the  Charleston Southern University Summer Piano Camp, June 25 & 27, 2019, Charleston, SC.