What is Project 21?

Project 21 is the name given to the group of students involved in the music composition department of Oklahoma City University.

Composition students exemplify the versatility that the School of Music endeavors to instill in its graduates. Composition students receive a strong technical grounding and are encouraged to write for a variety of ensembles and mediums including orchestra, chamber, musical theater, dance, and multimedia. Students work closely with the composer-in-residence and with distinguished guest artists. Visiting composers have included David Maslanka, John Corigliano, Ron Nelson, Simon Sargon, Martin Mailman, Jerod Tate, Laura Schwendinger, Ovid Young, Jack Stamp, David Friedman, Sujin Nam, Stephen Paulus, Thomas Pasatieri, and Frank Ticheli.

Katarzyna Brochocka won Grand Prize in the Chamber Division to the 2008 ISB/David Walter Composition Competition. The winning composition will be given its world premiere at the 2009 ISB Convention at Penn State University, June 8-13. Congratulations Kasia!

David Janssen was accepted into Boston University's DMA program in composition. David received his MM in composition from Manhattan School of Music (2007) and his BM in composition from OCU (2005).

Leah Sproul has been accepted to the University of Louisville's composition department and has been awarded the Moritz von Bomhard Fellowship, designed by Moritz von Bomhard (founder of the Kentucky Opera) for students with a special interest in composing vocal music (both art song and opera). The fellowship requires that she writes every other piece for voice and that she teaches up to three non-major composition students in her second year. It includes full tuition and stipend. The University of Louisville is home to the prestigious Grawmeyer Award in composition with past winners including John Corigliano, Joan Tower, and Tan Dun.

Maya Raviv's Echad was performed on April 27th as the final piece of the 3rd Festival of Universal Sacred Music. The concert was held at "Landmark on the Park" (4th Universalist Society on 160 Central Park West). On May 2nd Maya had a solo performance at a special Shabbat Service held by The New Seminary in NY (a seminary for Interfaith studies), honoring the founder of the Interfaith 'movement' on his 97th birthday at Central Presbyterian Church on 64th and Park Avenue. Another performance on May 9th at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan was part of their service.

Twelfth Night is another comic masterpiece by Shakespeare and was performed by OCU in April. The music was written by composition majors Tim Holt, Ben Harrell, and Leah Sproul.

Congrats to Jay Wadley for completing Yale University's artist diploma program in composition.