Featured Composer: Alan Schmitz

Alan Schmitz (born 1950) is Professor of Theory and Composition at the School of Music, University of Northern Iowa. He received bachelor and master of music degrees from the University of New Mexico and the Ph.D. in music theory and composition from Rutgers University. Schmitz’s music is widely performed in the United States and has also been presented in Western Europe, Romania, and Russia.  He has received awards, commissions, and grants for composition from several agencies including the Alaska Council of the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, the University of Northern Iowa, and the Lila Wallace/Readers Digest Foundation. Schmitz has also published articles on composing for guitar. Capstone/PARMA Records has released two CDs of music by Alan Schmitz: 90s Timeflow (chamber pieces) and Lyric Images (guitar music of Alan Schmitz performed by Todd Seeley). Another PARMA CD, which will feature works by Alan Schmitz and two of his sons (Christopher and Eric), will be released in 2016. Recent compositions include a chamber work: Hexachord Fantasy (2013) and a Brass Trio (2014).