McKINNON NAMED OMTA 2004-05 COMPOSER OF THE YEAR

Published: Feb. 5, 2004

by C.J. Gish
Media and publication writer
University Advancement
541-962-3585 / fax 541-962-3680

The Oregon Music Teacher's Association recently selected John McKinnon the 2004-05 Composer of the Year.

La Grande, Oregon - Some of Oregon's well-known poets will have their poems put to music by an Eastern Oregon University music professor.

John McKinnon was recently named the Oregon Music Teacher Association's Composer of the Year for 2004-05. The award entails McKinnon to compose a musical piece to be performed at the OMTA Conference during the summer of 2005.

"I'm really happy they selected me," McKinnon said. "This should be a really fun set of pieces to compose."

The responsibilities of being named Composer of the Year require McKinnon to create a musical score. He will be paid $1,500 to compose the piece.

"(The OMTA) gives you a commission and I'll take this year to compose the piece," McKinnon said. "Throughout the year I hope to go out and work with student composers throughout the state."

McKinnon wanted to create a song cycle for voice and piano based on texts by Oregon poets, including Stafford and EOU professor emeritus George Venn, along with other EOU poets. He sent four scores and a CD of his work to the OMTA for the selection process. "You are selected on (your work) and the commission proposal you make," he said.

"I'd like to center on Eastern Oregon University writers," he said. "I hope it will be a series of songs that can be performed individually or as a cycle for recitals. Each (school) district has solo and ensemble festivals where they perform and are graded. I want to write these pieces suitable for that type of situation."

McKinnon's piece will then represent Oregon at the National Music Teacher's Association Conference.

Other commissions that McKinnon is composing include "Quasi-Indian-Pastiche" - an alto saxophone, trombone and piano piece he created for Western Oregon University's music group, Sound Moves. Sound Moves will take the piece on tour.

"I have a current request to write a piece for the EOU Community Band. It's entitlted 'The Elgin Stampede' and it will be a fast march," he said.

McKinnon has been teaching music at EOU since 1985.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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