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.

Recent News

August, 2010

Alumni, Faculty, and Students Collaborate

This summer, Project 21 member Max Randa was able to collaborate with faculty member Jan McDaniel as well as OCU alumni Kelli O'Hara to arrange a work for a concert she will be putting on in October. Kelli has been one of OCU's biggest success stories, and is known nationwide for her exceptional talent.

Students give back with their talents

Junior music composition major Max Randa and senior Megan Gourley arranged several pieces this summer for a large scale benefit concert featuring members of the Austin Lyric Opera and the Austin Symphony, including conductor Peter Bay. The concert was a tremendous success, and raised much more than expected for their target community.

Project 21 Music in Games

This summer, sophomore music composition major Nick Poss wrote music for an upcoming iPhone app called "Space Funk", a game about a black block navigating the treacherous landscape of outer space. Look for it in the App Store soon!

May, 2010

Local high school premieres Project 21 piece

On May 13th, 2010, the first movement of Atoconeura Eudoxia was premiered by the Carl Albert High School Band at their spring concert. Atoconeura Eudoxia is a three movement concert band piece composed by Project 21 president Jamie Whitmarsh specifically for the Carl Albert HS band. The piece had been commissioned by Carl Albert's assistant band director, Sarah Neely, who also conducted the performance. Carl Albert HS Band did a fantastic job with a challenging piece.

April, 2010

Arielle O' Keefe to perform With Ingrid Michaelson

Freshman Composition Major Arielle O'Keefe was selected as the winner of the Ingrid Michaelson Video Contest with her video cover entry of Michaelson's newest single "Everybody". As the grand prize winner selected by Michaelson herself, Arielle will get to perform live in concert with Michaelson! Congrats!

January, 2010

Joseph Cruise Berry

Freshman Joseph Cruise Berry was recently selected as one of 11 American Indian composers to be featured in a new album by acclaimed string quartet "Ethel". The recording of the album was hosted from January 22-24 at Oklahoma City University's Wanda L. Bass School of Music. This album, to be distributed worldwide by Naxos in 2010, will feature Berry's "Fantasia", as well as other contemporary classical works. The album will be available for purchase through Thunderbird Records, iTunes, Amazon, and others.

Ethel Official Website:

http://www.ethelcentral.com/

Jamie Whitmarsh to be performed at SCI Region VI Conference

Composition senior Jamie Whitmarsh will have a piece on the 2010 SCI Region VI Conference. His multi-percussion duet, 'Incontro Deux' will be performed during the conference. The 2010 SCI Region VI Conference will be hosted by Kansas University, from March 24th to March 27th. More information on the conference can be found here.

'Incontro Deux' was premiered and performed by 'Duo' in Canada throughout the summer of 2009. 'Duo' members Brennan Connolly and Dave Robillard commissioned the work in the spring of 2009. The American premiere was December 4th on the final Project 21 concert of the decade, and was performed by Jamie Whitmarsh and Dane Romano.