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Composer

 

Andrea Ramsey is a renowned composer, conductor, and educator in the field of classical music. Born in 1979 in Arkansas, Ramsey grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at a young age. She later pursued her passion for music by earning a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Central Arkansas and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Ramsey's career as a composer began in earnest in 2006, when she won the prestigious Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Contest for her piece "The Snow," which was subsequently performed by the University of Illinois Women's Glee Club. Since then, Ramsey has become a prolific composer, with over 100 works to her name, including choral pieces, art songs, and chamber music. One of Ramsey's most notable works is her choral cycle "But a Flint Holds Fire," which was commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association and premiered in 2016. The cycle consists of four movements, each of which sets a text by a different female poet: "The World Is Too Much With Us" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "The Windhover" by Gerard Manley Hopkins, "The Sea Is History" by Derek Walcott, and "The Peace of Wild Things" by Wendell Berry. The cycle has been praised for its lush harmonies, evocative imagery, and powerful message of resilience in the face of adversity. Another of Ramsey's notable works is her setting of the traditional spiritual "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," which has become a staple of choral repertoire since its premiere in 2013. Ramsey's arrangement of the spiritual features a driving rhythm, intricate harmonies, and a soaring soprano solo, and has been performed by choirs around the world. In addition to her work as a composer, Ramsey is also an accomplished conductor and educator. She has served as the Artistic Director of the Ozark Chorale in Arkansas since 2005, and has conducted numerous other choirs and ensembles throughout her career. Ramsey is also a sought-after clinician and guest conductor, and has led workshops and masterclasses for choirs and conductors across the United States. Ramsey's contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2017, she was named the recipient of the American Choral Directors Association's prestigious Brock Commission, which commissions a new work from a promising young composer every two years. Ramsey's commissioned work, "The Waking," premiered in 2019 and has been hailed as a masterpiece of choral writing. Overall, Andrea Ramsey's career as a composer, conductor, and educator has been marked by a deep commitment to excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. Her works have touched the hearts and minds of countless musicians and audiences around the world, and her legacy as a trailblazer in the field of classical music is sure to endure for generations to come.

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