Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

March 20, 1956

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Band

 

Timothy Mahr is a renowned American composer of classical music, known for his unique style and ability to create music that is both beautiful and emotionally powerful. Born on October 24, 1956, in Faribault, Minnesota, Mahr grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from a young age. His father was a high school band director, and his mother was a piano teacher, so it was only natural that Mahr would develop a love for music. Mahr began playing the trumpet in elementary school and quickly showed a talent for the instrument. He continued to play throughout high school and went on to study music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. While at St. Olaf, Mahr studied composition with Timothy Takach and Peter Hamlin, both of whom had a significant influence on his development as a composer. After graduating from St. Olaf in 1978, Mahr went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Minnesota. He then spent several years teaching music at various schools and universities before eventually settling at St. Olaf, where he has been a professor of music since 1991. Throughout his career, Mahr has composed a wide variety of music, including works for orchestra, wind ensemble, choir, and chamber groups. His music is known for its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and emotional depth, and has been performed by ensembles around the world. One of Mahr's most famous works is "Fantasia in G," a piece for wind ensemble that was commissioned by the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America in 1995. The piece is a tribute to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and features a series of variations on the chorale "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr." The work has become a staple of the wind ensemble repertoire and is widely regarded as one of Mahr's finest compositions. Another notable work by Mahr is "Endurance," a piece for orchestra that was commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra in 2000. The work is a tribute to the crew of the ill-fated Endurance expedition to Antarctica in 1914-1916, and features a series of musical portraits of the crew members and their experiences. The piece is a powerful and moving tribute to the human spirit and has been performed by orchestras around the world. In addition to his work as a composer, Mahr is also an accomplished conductor and has led numerous ensembles throughout his career. He has conducted the St. Olaf Band, the Minnesota Symphonic Winds, and the Minnesota All-State Band, among others, and is known for his ability to bring out the best in his musicians. Mahr has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Award, the American Bandmasters Association Ostwald Award, and the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Composition Award. He is also a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the American Bandmasters Association. Today, Mahr continues to compose and teach at St. Olaf College, where he is a beloved member of the music faculty. His music continues to inspire and move audiences around the world, and his legacy as one of America's greatest composers is secure.

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