Role

:

Composer

 

Jeff Herriott is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1976 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a music teacher. Herriott began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and drums. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Composition in 1999. After completing his undergraduate studies, Herriott went on to earn a Master of Music in Composition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2001. He then pursued a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition at the University of Minnesota, which he completed in 2006. During his time at the University of Minnesota, Herriott studied with composers such as Judith Lang Zaimont and Alex Lubet. Herriott's music is characterized by its use of unconventional sounds and textures, as well as its incorporation of elements from various musical traditions. He has composed works for a variety of ensembles, including chamber groups, orchestras, and electronic ensembles. Some of his most notable works include "The Stone Tapestry" for string quartet and electronics, "The Great Silence" for orchestra and electronics, and "The Unstable Nature of Things" for chamber ensemble and electronics. One of Herriott's early works, "The Stone Tapestry," was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and premiered in 2003. The piece is inspired by the idea of a "stone tape," a hypothetical recording of past events that is said to be imprinted on certain materials. In the piece, Herriott uses electronic sounds to create a sense of the past being layered on top of the present. The work has been praised for its innovative use of technology and its ability to create a haunting, otherworldly atmosphere. Another notable work by Herriott is "The Great Silence," which was commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra and premiered in 2015. The piece is inspired by the Fermi Paradox, which asks why, if there are so many potentially habitable planets in the universe, we have not yet made contact with extraterrestrial life. Herriott uses electronic sounds to create a sense of vastness and emptiness, as well as to suggest the presence of alien intelligence. The work has been praised for its ability to evoke a sense of wonder and awe. In addition to his work as a composer, Herriott is also a professor of music at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a McKnight Composer Fellowship and a Fromm Music Foundation Commission. His music has been performed by ensembles such as the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the JACK Quartet. Overall, Jeff Herriott is a composer who has made significant contributions to the field of contemporary classical music. His innovative use of technology and incorporation of diverse musical traditions have helped to push the boundaries of what is possible in classical music. His works are characterized by their ability to create unique soundscapes and evoke powerful emotions in listeners. As a professor and mentor to young composers, Herriott is also helping to shape the future of classical music and inspire the next generation of musicians.

More....