ADAM SOVKOPLAS


Contact the composer:
a.sovkoplas@uky.edu

CLICK HERE FOR MUSIC SAMPLES

COMPOSER BIOGRAPHY:
DMA in Composition - University of Kentucky (2013)
Graduate Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy - University of Kentucky (2009)
MM in Theory and Composition - Sam Houston State University (2006)
BA in Music - University of Texas at Brownsville (2004)

Adam Sovkoplas (b. 1982 in Brownsville, Texas) completed his DMA in Composition at the University of Kentucky under the instruction of Joe Baber in May of 2013. His previous composition instructors include Richard Urbis, Trent Hanna, and Thomas Couvillon.
Sovkoplas has been awarded the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers scholarship, won the 2nd Annual SHSU Phi Mu Alpha/Fisher Tull Composition Contest, and was recognized as the CMS South Central Chapter Outstanding Student Composer in 2006. His works have been performed nationally and internationally at various conferences and festivals including the 2nd Annual Festival of New Organ Music, London, England (2007), the Orvieto Musica Festival in Italy (2008), the International Computer Music Conference in New York (2010), the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the College Music Society Regional Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia (2012), the International Summer Arts Institute in Città di Castello, Italy (2012), and the International Double Reed Society conference in Oxford, Ohio (2012). In 2012, Sovkoplas's composition Tom Bombadil (2011) for orchestra was selected as the winning composition of the Magnum Opus: A New Composer's Competition and premiered by the Symphony of the Mountains

Sovkoplas currently teaches music theory at Eastern Kentucky University, music composition at Asbury University, and music theory and composition at Marshall University. Sovkoplas is also an active playwright and actor in Central Kentucky and performs regularly with Bluegrass Mystery Theatre in Lexington, KY.


HIRE ME:

  • To create custom music examples for your textbooks or papers.
  • To edit your scores and parts for notational errors.
  • To transcribe your handwritten music into a publication ready format.

    Also offering tutorial services for all levels of music theory including high school through graduate courses and doctoral qualifying exam prep.


    LIST OF WORKS
    All works are available for purchase through the Adam Sovkoplas Publishing House (ASCAP) unless otherwise specified. For duration and program notes, see bottom of page.


    WOODWIND WORKS

  • P.S. It's a Silverstein Trio (2012)
    -for bassoon, viola, and cello

  • Once Upon a Unicorn (2012)
    -for Clarinet (Bb, A, or bass)

  • Saxophone Quartet No. 1: A Slice of Silverstein (2012)
    -for SATB Sax quartet

  • Saxocaphony: Sonata No. 1 for Saxophone and Piano (2009)
    -for solo sax (SATB) with piano acc.

  • Mosaic for Indigo Flux (2006)
    -for woodwind quintet with lighting and slideshow options

  • Sorrow (2005)
    -for flute with piano accompaniment


    • BRASS WORKS

  • Waltz (2011)
    -for trumpet and organ

  • Orvieto Trumpet Fanfare (2008)
    -for trumpet ensemble in five parts

  • Commonwealth Fanfare (2007)
    -for trumpet ensemble in five parts

  • March Romantique: Carpe Diem (2004)
    -for brass octet with percussion

  • Quartet No.1: Berg (2004)
    -for 2 euphoniums (or trombones) and 2 tubas
    -available from Tuba Euphonium Press (TEP 10854)


    • KEYBOARD WORKS

  • Tom Bombadil (2011)
    -for piano

  • Passacagliations in D (2011)
    -for organ

  • Lament (2008)
    -for organ

  • Rondo (2006)
    -piano

  • A Day in the Life (2006)
    -for piano

  • Prelude and Canon and Fugue (2005)
    -for organ

  • Time (2005)
    -for upright piano

  • An American Elegy (2003)
    -for piano


    • PERCUSSION WORKS

  • The Cauchemar Clowns (2011)
    -for percussion ensemble

  • Marimba Sonata No. 1 (2007)
    -for three performers on one five-octave marimba

  • Percussive Waters (2004)
    -for percussion trio


    • CHORAL/VOCAL WORKS

  • I Will Never Walk Alone (2015)
    -for Soprano, SATB choir, and piano

  • Songs of My Soul (2014)
    -for Soprano with piano acc.

  • God Is Our Refuge (2007)
    -for SATB a cappella

  • Christ the Lord is King (2006)
    -for 10 voice chorus
    --or--
    -for SATB with organ


    • JAZZ COMBO WORKS

  • Lonely Road, Lonely River (2008)
    -for jazz combo with voice

  • Hopin' That This Day Will Never End (2008)
    -for jazz combo with M/F vocal duet


    • CHAMBER ENSEMBLE WORKS

  • The Demise of Captain Farragut (2011)
    -for flute, viola, and double bass

  • Firecracker (2011)
    -for Bb clarinet, alto sax, horn in F, tenor trombone, viola, and cello

  • The Madness Within (2011)
    -for flute, violin, cello, and piano

  • Danza de la pasión (2005)
    -for piano quintet with trumpet in Bb


    • LARGE ENSEMBLE WORKS

  • The Stone Troll (2013)
    -Orchestra

  • Tom Bombadil (2011)
    -Orchestra

  • An American Elegy (2011)
    -Chamber Orchestra

  • Centennial Fanfare (2010)
    -Wind Ensemble

  • March for Winds (2010)
    -Wind Ensemble

  • Heritage Suite (2008)
    -flute/pic, oboe, Bb clarinet, horn in F, bassoon, violin, cello, dbl. bass

  • Graukopf the Ringmaster (2004)
    -Wind Ensemble


    • ELECTRONIC WORKS

  • Onward and Upward (2005)
    -electronic composition

  • Three Electronic Poems (2007)
    -electronic composition

  • Train Racer (2005)
    -electronic composition


    • PLAYS

  • Bloodshed on a Bluegrass Boxcar (2011)
    - one-act play

  • Melodious Murder on the BG Express (2011)
    - one-act play

  • Welcome to Utopia (2010)
    - one-act play

  • Happy Birthday Walter (2009)
    - 10-minute play



    • PROGRAM NOTES
    for selected works only

    The following notes are arranged alphabetically. If you are looking for a particular ensemble, please reference the list above.

    An American Elegy for piano duration: 6 minutes completed: 2003
    This piece was originally written as an emotional response to the events of September 11, 2001. It is built using several motives each representing different reactions: shock, disbelief, anger, sadness, determination, self realization, patriotism, etc. These motives frame the use of the Star Spangled Banner which is transformed and nearly lost through octave displacement. The presentation of the last phrase of the anthem comes in an almost dream-like state in the upper most range of the piano and represents a longing for resolution and an end to chaos. The final pitch of the piece, also the final note of the Star Spangled Banner, implies hope through despair. These same feelings run their course through the hearts, minds, and souls of everyone who faces devastation, tragedy, war or the like and create sympathy and empathy that bind us together as the human race.
    Commonwealth Fanfare for trumpet ensemble duration: 2 minutes, 40 seconds completed: 2007
    On March 3, 2007 I attended a concert as part of the University of Kentucky’s Trumpet Day. As a trumpet player, I was impressed with the experience, and as a composer, I was inspired to write a work for trumpet ensemble. This fanfare with its Kentucky derived name is the product of that inspiration.
    Heritage Suite for flute/pic, oboe, Bb clarinet, horn in F, bassoon, violin, cello, and dbl. bass duration: 11 minutes completed: 2008
    The suite is meant to be fun and light in character. As the title implies, I wanted it to be a reflection of my heritage. The first two dances, the Polka and the Waltz, are inspired by my Czech and Austrian ancestry and the Jig is reflective of my Scottish background.
    Once Upon a Unicorn for clarinet duration: 6 minutes completed: 2012
    This is a musical dramatization of the poem Unicorn written by my great-aunt Helen King Marolf. The reading of the poem is coupled with music of an haunting and mysterious quality designed to compliment the programmatic nature of the poem. The composition was written with clarinetist Arianna Teighi and the premiere performance in Perugia, Italy in mind. This is why the piece can be performed on a Bb, A, or bass clarinet and the poem may be read in English or Italian as the performer chooses.
    P.S. It's a Silverstein Trio for bassoon, viola, and cello duration: 12 minutes completed: 2012
    It is very fortunate that the Friedells, Peter Simpson, and I are all fond of the poems and drawings of Shel Silverstein. It made picking a source of inspiration for the Friedells’ commission for me to write a new work for Peter quite an obvious choice. After scouring Where the Sidewalk Ends for good musical material, I selected a dozen or so poems for Peter to choose from, which resulted in the present four movement work. If you do not have access to the poetry for which each movement is named, I hope that this brief description will help create programmatic images. Upstairs depicts a family of wrens nesting in a large top hat upon a man’s head. Rain depicts a person who has stared up at the rain too long; their head has become full of water making it difficult to move about. Enter This Deserted House depicts a creepy sort of dilapidated haunted house. In The Flying Festoon, a person is talking about the adventurous trips they will have riding the large bird... as soon as it learns to fly.
    Passacagliations in D for organ duration: 7 minutes, 30 seconds completed: 2010
    Passacagliations (composed September of 2010) is neither a passacaglia nor a theme and variations but a kind of melding of the two. The chord progression of the second statement is the creative germ of this work and the chant-like bass line that opens as the passacaglia theme is a result of that progression. Rather than use a “classic” chord progression, I decided to build one in which all of the chords are related by common-tones as they progress. This resulted in a twenty-one chord progression that includes a variety of different sonorities. In the third presentation, I have taken the chord progression and arranged it into a four-voice harmony with a rhythm that resembles a hymn. The middle section of the hymn presentation is actually a retrograde of the progression to the sixteenth chord, which happens to be the V7 of D and allows for a return of the A section of the hymn. In the fourth presentation, the passacaglia bass line returns. The chord progression over this is that from the second statement played twice in half-time and there is a dramatic accelerando throughout. The fifth statement of the theme is in a fast waltz which runs into a faster double prelude. The final presentation is a fugue based on the “melodic” line of the chord progression from the second statement. The fugue itself is tonal, but the original chord progression is used to drive the transitional key changes from one fugal statement to the next. The piece ends with a short return of the prelude material.
    Percussive Waters for percussion trio including Timpani, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Marimba, and Rain Sticks duration: 9 minutes 45 seconds completed: 2004
    This work uses minimalism to portray the transformation of water through its many stages. Each of the four movements represents a different form of water and has a different minimalist idea flowing through it. The movements are also based on different modes: I. Phrygian Glacier, II. Lydian River, III. Dorian Mist, and IV. Locrian Rain. I believe this combination of modes and minimalism creates a haunting and hypnotic appeal.
    Quartet No. 1: Berg for 2 trombones and 2 tubas duration: 4 minutes 51 seconds completed: 2004
    After studying dodecaphony, I decided I wanted to write a twelve-tone work that strictly adhered to its principals. However, I also wanted to create a piece that was attractive to the ear. After much listening, I decided that Berg’s works were closest to what I wanted to achieve. I built a row and created my matrix. Then, using pivot points, overlapping rows, and simultaneities, I created a work that I believe is both pleasant to the ear and maintains the principals of dodecaphony and atonality.
    Saxocaphony: Sonata for Saxophone and Piano No. 1 for saxophone (solo SATB) duration: 11 minutes completed: 2009
    My purpose for composing this work is to give the audience the opportunity to hear the different timbres of the saxophone family within a single piece. I invented the melody for the first movement of this work while administering the final exam for my Fundamentals of Music Theory course at the University of Kentucky, hence the movements subtitle. It is based on pitch class sets and contains an aggregate of the twelve available pitch-classes. The accompaniment and the rest of the movement are constructed using the original pitch class sets. The second movement’s theme is constructed using the retrograde of the last sixteen pitches of the melody from the first movement. The subject of the Fugue is based on the retrograde inversion of the sixteen-pitch Passacaglia theme from the second movement. The fourth movement is nearly identical to the first except that since the soprano sax is a Bb instrument and the bari is an Eb instrument and they are voiced in very different registers, the accompaniment had to be rewritten to match.
    Saxophone Quartet No. 1: A Slice of Silverstein for SATB saxophone quartet duration: 9 minutes completed: 2012
    I have been a great admirer of Shel Silverstein’s work ever since I was given one of his books of poems and drawings for Christmas or my birthday (they’re less than a month a part, so it’s hard to remember which) as a child. Recently, my interest in writing programmatic compositions has led me to the use of a variety of literary sources as my muse. This is the first of several pieces I intend to write based on Silverstein’s poetry, which I have found to be very inspirational. The three poems for which the movements of this work are titled are taken from Where the Sidewalk Ends. While I do not pretend that the following summaries could ever do Silverstein’s poetry justice, they may help the listener to better understand the programmatic nature of the movements.
    The Yipiyuk is a small, slimy swamp creature that has latched onto the toe of a poor, unsuspecting man. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot get it to let go. For sixteen years he’s been dragging the Yipiyuk around with him everywhere he goes.
    The Worst is a poem describing a giant, ferocious monster. It ends by informing the reader that the beast is standing right behind them. In my musical interpretation, I imagine the reader taking flight and the lumbering creature in pursuit.
    Dancing Pants is written in an introductory format like an MC introducing the next act of a show. In this case, it is a “Super sensational, utterly fabulous” pair of pants that seems to have come to life and dances all on its own.
    Songs of My Soul for soprano with piano acc. duration: 15 minutes completed: 2014
    The poems used in this cycle were not grouped together by the poet. They were selected by the composer from two books of assorted poetry written by his great aunt, Helen Marolf King, and were chosen because they share the common themes of the soul, longing, reflection, and anticipation of what's to come.
    Sorrow for flute with piano accompaniment duration: 3 minutes 45 seconds completed: 2005
    This emotionally expressive piece depicts a person with sorrow so great that it swells until they reach the point of collapse. The journey is broken only by a momentary attempt to feign good humor for a concerned passerby.
    Three Electronic Poems an electronic composition duration: 3 minutes 32 seconds completed: 2007
    This piece is comprised of three short electronic works each based on a different poem. The poems and music were created at the same time and were cross-influenced. The first poem midnight is accompanied by the first musical composition music for midnight. The second poem (and musical composition) is titled Ghost Whispers, and the third is ALIEN-NATION.
    Time for upright piano duration: 11 minutes 59 seconds completed: 2005
    Based on aspects of time, this piece has a strict tempo of 60 beats per minute. I. Clock represents the twelve strokes of a grandfather clock. The constant eighth-note represents the ticking of seconds on II. Tick-Tock. III. Jaws of Time introduces death, the monster that brings the cessation of time, and is represented by a tri-tone phrase and the masticating sound caused by beating the damper pedal. In IV. Out of Time, the motives slowly accelerate until they spin out of control and end in an abrupt halt. The duration of this piece is exactly 11 minutes and 59 seconds. Time runs out before the twelfth hour alluding to the initial twelve strokes of the grandfather clock.
    Train Racer an electronic composition duration: 2 minutes 10 seconds completed: 2005
    This is a programmatic work depicting an automobile racing a train to a railroad crossing. The listener starts with the train leaving the station. After passing several road crossings, the listener will hear the revving of an automobile engine entering the foreground. At the last minute the vehicle hit’s the brakes, but it is too late. The train, unharmed in the crash, fades into the distance and the listener is left near the wreckage. As the train fades away, the listener is passed by emergency vehicles with blaring sirens speeding to the rescue. This work began as an orchestral concept but I could never find the right combination of instruments to produce the desired effect. It wasn’t until I began experimenting with electronic music at Sam Houston State University that this piece truly blossomed.

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    • COMMISSION ME:

    If you would be interested in commissioning me to write a new work, please send me an email: a.sovkoplas@uky.edu. I welcome requests from ensembles, soloists, and non-musicians and can cater to any skill level. I am particularly fond of writing programmatic works and works based on literary sources. I am also interested in collaborative efforts with poets, writers, photographers, artists, etc.
    Feel free to request samples and sound files.


    ANNOUNCEMENTS:

    46th Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

    Songs of My Soul (2014) for soprano and piano will be performed by Jenni Hough and Annie Brooks at the 46th Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference to be held at Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina, February 26-27, 2016.


    BUY TRAIN RACER !!

    The one-minute version of Train Racer is now available for purchase as part of the 60x60 (2004/2005): Midwest Minutes CD released by Vox Novus. It can also be purchased as an MP3 through several online stores including Yahoo, Amazon, and i-Tunes.




    RECENT EVENTS AND PAST PERFORMANCES:


    Once Upon a Unicorn (2012) for solo clarinet was performed by David Leech at the College Music Society 30th Rocky Mountain Regional Conference held at Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, Colorado, March 20-21, 2015.

    Once Upon a Unicorn (2012) for solo clarinet was performed by Anne Watson at the College Music Society 30th South Central Regional Conference held at Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, March 12-14, 2015.

    Songs of My Soul (2014) for soprano with piano accompaniment was premiered at the Birke Fine Arts Festival 2015 Sixth Annual Festival of New Music held at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, February 28, 2015. It was performed by Clarissa Smith, soprano, and Jeanine Wheeler, piano. The concert may be viewed by visiting: Marshall University Livestream

    P.S. It’s a Silverstein Trio (2012) for bassoon, viola, and cello was performed by Ensemble Christo LA at the 2014 National Conference of the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers held at Biola University, La Merida, California, October 8-11, 2014.

    Saxophone Quartet No.1: A Slice of Silverstein (2012) for SATB saxophone quartet was performed by students of the University of North Dakota at the 2014 Regional Conference of the College Music Society Great Lakes Chapter held at the University of North Dakota, Fargo, North Dakota, March 28-29, 2014.

    Saxophone Quartet No.1: A Slice of Silverstein (2012) for SATB saxophone quartet was performed by Jordan Carinelli, Ed Bingham, Lucy Ward, and Robert Galloway at the Birke Fine Arts Festival 2014 Fifth Annual Festival of New Music held at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, February 25 - March 1, 2014.

    Once Upon a Unicorn (2012) for clarinet was performed by Katie Pitts at the 2013 Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers National Conference held at the Greatbach School of Music, Houghton College, Houghton, New York, October 25-26, 2013.

    Three Electronic Poems, Mvt. II: Ghost Whispers (2007), electronic music, was included on the 60x60: 2012 Presenters Mix and has received multiple performances (selected listing): University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY, May 3, 2013); University of Bremen, Theaters (Bremen, Germany, April 4, 2013); Audiograft 2013, Oxford Brookes University (Oxford, England, February 27, 2013); University of Tennessee (Chattanooga, TN, January 28, 2013); The Electronic and Digital Art Unit - University of Central Lancashire (United Kingdom, November 20, 2012); National University of Music (Bucharest, Romania, December 5, 2012); Longy School of Music of Bard College (Cambridge, MA, November 9, 2012); Arts NOW Series - North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC, September 18, 2012)

    Lament (2008) for organ was performed by Jane Johnson as the prelude for the Good Friday service at Crestwood Christian Church in Lexington, KY, March 29, 2013.

    P.S. It’s a Silverstein Trio (2012) for bassoon, viola, and cello was performed by Peter Simpson at the International Double Reed Society 2012 Conference held at Miami University, Oxford, OH, July 10, 2012.

    Once Upon a Unicorn (2012) for solo clarinet was premiered by Arianna Tieghi at the 2012 International Summer Arts Institute held at Scuola Communate di Musica Giacomo Puccini, Citta di Castello, Italy, July 6, 2012.

    Saxophone Quartet No.1: A Slice of Silverstein (2012) for SATB saxophone quartet was performed by the Saxophilia Saxophone Quartet at Yarilo Music Studio (and streamed live at www.yarilomusic.com) in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada, June 10, 2012.

    Tom Bombadil (2011) for orchestra was selected as the winning composition of the Magnum Opus: A New Composer's Competition and premiered by the Symphony of the Mountains in the “World Premier Concert” on May 5, 2012 at the Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center in Kingsport, TN.

    Saxophone Quartet No. 1: A Slice of Silverstein (2012) for SATB saxophone quartet was premiered by the Saxophilia Saxophone Quartet as part of the College Music Society - 25th Pacific Northwest Regional Conference held March 16-17, 2012 at Capilano University in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

    Sorrow (2005) for flute and piano was performed as part of the College Music Society - 27th South Central Regional Conference held March 1-3, 2012 at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

    P.S. It's a Silverstein Trio (2012) for bassoon, viola, and cello was commissioned by Gil and Jan Friedell to be written for Peter Simpson, principle bassoonists of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. It received its premiere performance on a concert presented by the Chamber Music Society of Central Kentucky on Sunday, February 26, 2012 in the Singletary Center for the Arts Recital Hall. The Silverstein Trio was commissioned by Gil and Jan Friedell and dedicated to bassoonist Peter Simpson. Simpson performed the work along with Margaret Karp on viola and Benjamin Karp on cello.

    Tom Bombadil (2011) for piano received its premiere performance as part of the College Music Society - 4th Pacific Southwest Regional Conference on February 18, 2012 at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.

    As part of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra's New Music Experiment Quartet no. 1: Berg originally scored for low brass quartet was adapted for two flutes and two violins and performed on Friday, February 17, 2012. The New Music Experiment included a week long workshop.

    Passacagliations in D (2010) for organ was performed as part of the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers Regional Conference held November 5, 2011 at Nyack College in Nyack, NY.

    On the University of Kentucky Composers Concert (October 3, 2011) as part of the Fifth Annual Kentucky New Music Festival, three of my tunes from the musical Harmony were premiered: Lonely, Friends Across Time, and We've Got it All. There was also a performance of Saxocaphony: Sonata for Saxophone and Piano No.1.

    I was selected to participate in the 2011 Cleveland Composers Recording Institute at Cleveland State University from July 11-15, 2011. As part of the institute, Time for upright piano was recorded by Geoffrey Burleson and I presented a masterclass session on Passacagliations in D and Saxocaphony: Sonata for Saxophone and Piano No. 1.

    Passacagliations in D for organ was premiered on The New Ranks of Organ Music Concert (October 24, 2010) as part of the Fourth Annual Kentucky New Music Festival.

    Lazy Days for solo piano and Danza de la pasión for piano quintet with Bb trumpet were performed on the Second Kentucky Composers Invitational concert on October 17 as part of the Fourth Kentucky New Music Festival.

    An American Elegy for solo piano and Rondo for solo piano were performed on the First Annual Kentucky Composers Invitational concert as part of the Third Annual Kentucky New Music Festival which took place at the University of Kentucky October 19-26, 2009. This was the premiere performance of Rondo.

    The Orvieto Trumpet Fanfare and the Commonwealth Fanfare were performed on the Music of the 21st-Century concert as part of the 2nd Annual Kentucky New Music Festival which took place at the University of Kentucky November 9-14, 2008.

    After being selected for inclusion in the 60x60 (2005/Midwest Minutes) project, Train Racer has received performances at the EMM Festival, Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois, (October 16-18, 2008); the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (April 20, 2007); the St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri (May 6, 2006); the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota (November 16, 2005); The University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois (November 10, 2005); the EMM Festival at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Missouri (October 21, 2005); and premiered at Lewis University in Romeo, Illinois (September 30, 2005).

    On October 11, 2008 Sorrow was performed on one of the concerts of the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers National Conference at Indiana Wesleyan University.

    The one-minute version of Train Racer is now available for purchase as part of the 60x60 (2004/2005): Midwest Minutes CD released by Vox Novus. It can also be purchased as an MP3 through several online stores including Yahoo, Amazon, and i-Tunes.

    The UK Trumpet Ensemble under the direction of Mark Clodfelter premiered my Orvieto Trumpet Fanfare at the Orvieto Musica festival in Italy in June, 2008.

    The third movement of my Marimba Sonata No. 1 was premiered as part of the 2008 SCI Region VI Conference/Sam Houston State University Contemporary Music Festival on April 18, 2008 at 10:30am.

    On February 20, 2008 the UK Trumpet Ensemble under the direction of Mark Clodfelter commissioned me to write a fanfare to be premiered at the Orvieto Musica festival in Italy this summer. The UK Trumpet Ensemble will be attending the festival for the first time this year. In response, I have composed the Orvieto Trumpet Fanfare.

    George Frederic Handel was premiered in one of the "lively pre-concert discussions" dealing with the performance of new music at the 2nd Annual Festival of New Organ Music in London in October, 2007.

    My Three Electronic Poems were premiered at the Haunting Harmonies of the 21st-Century concert as part of the 1st Annual Kentucky New Music Festival which took place at the University of Kentucky October 9-12, 2007.

    On April 15, 2007 the UK Trumpet Ensemble premiered my Commonwealth Fanfare for trumpet ensemble in five parts at a Friends of Music Salon Series concert.

    In September of 2006, I began work on a collaborative project with Louise Epperson. Mrs. Epperson has written the script for a musical titled Harmony (see synopsis at bottom of page) which I am setting to music.

    My Graduate Recital for my MM at SHSU, Music of the 21st-Century, took place on April 23, 2006 at the First United Methodist Church in Huntsville, TX. The concert featured the premieres of Christ the Lord is King, Prelude, Canon and Fugue, and Onward and Upward. The program also included Sorrow, Train Racer, Time, and Danza de la pasion.

    On April 10, 2006 the Rio Bravo Percussion Ensemble performed Percussive Waters as part of their concert at the University of Texas at Brownsville. In addition, I taught a Master Class on minimalism and its use in Percussive Waters that morning.

    On April 5, 2006 as part of the 44th Annual Contemporary Music Festival hosted by Sam Houston State University, Sorrow for flute with piano accompaniment was re-premiered in its heavily revised version.

    As part of the College Music Society South Central Chapter and NACUSA Texas Chapter Joint Conference held March 8-11, 2006 at Texas State University, Time was performed with its visual counterpart for the first time. During the conference, I was awarded the CMS South Central Best Student Composition Award for Time.

    At the Sam Houston State University Phi Mu Alpha Student Composition Recital on May 3, 2005, Danza de la Pasion received its premiere. Quartet No. 1: Berg was played as well and was awarded the 2nd Annual SHSU Phi Mu Alpha/Fisher Tull Composition Award.

    Time, for upright piano, premiered on February 22, 2005 as part of the 43rd Annual Contemporary Music Festival hosted by Sam Houston State University.

    Graukopf the Ringmaster, for wind ensemble, was premiered on April 3, 2004 at the Symphony in the Park and All That Jazz adult literacy fundraiser held by the University of Texas at Brownsville.


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    PERFORMANCES OF PLAYS by ADAM SOVKOPLAS


    Melodious Murder on the BG Express (one-act play)
    Produced by Dana L. Edison, owner of Bluegrass Mystery Theatre
    Performed at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum (Versailles, KY)
    June 21st and 22nd, 2014

    Treacherous Trek on the Tracks (one-act play)
    Produced by Dana L. Edison, owner of Bluegrass Mystery Theatre
    Performed at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum (Versailles, KY)
    September 14th and 15th, 2013

    The Assassination Express (one-act play)
    Produced by Dana L. Edison, owner of Bluegrass Mystery Theatre
    Performed at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum (Versailles, KY)
    June 22nd and 23rd, 2013

    All Aboard for Mobsters & Murder (one-act play)
    Produced by Dana L. Edison, owner of Bluegrass Mystery Theatre
    Performed at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum (Versailles, KY)
    September 15th and 16th, 2012

    High Tech Homicide On the Tracks (one-act play)
    Produced by Dana L. Edison, owner of Bluegrass Mystery Theatre
    Performed at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum (Versailles, KY)
    June 23rd and 24th, 2012

    Bloodshed on a Bluegrass Boxcar (one-act play)
    Produced by Dana L. Edison, owner of Bluegrass Mystery Theatre
    Performed at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum (Versailles, KY)
    September 24th and 25th, 2011

    Melodious Murder on the BG Express (one-act play)
    Produced by Dana L. Edison, owner of Bluegrass Mystery Theatre
    Performed at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum (Versailles, KY)
    June 25th and 26th, 2011

    Welcome to Utopia (one-act play)
    The University of Kentucky One-Act Play Festival
    Lexington, KY, 2010

    Happy Birthday Walter (10-minute play)
    The University of Kentucky 10-Minute Play Festival
    Lexington, KY, 2009


    KENTUCKY NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL

    From 2007-2011, I was the director of the Kentucky New Music Festival. The following is an outline of the concerts and events that took place during each festival, which mostly took place on the campus of the University of Kentucky.

    The first KENTUCKY NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL directed by Adam Sovkoplas and organized by the Central Kentucky Student Chapter, SCI was held October 9-12, 2007. Concerts included:
  • 60x60 (2007) Midwest Minutes October 9
  • Modern Classics Concert October 10
  • Haunting Harmonies of the 21st-Century Concert October 11
  • EKU Composers’ Forum October 12


    • The second KENTUCKY NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL directed by Adam Sovkoplas and organized by the Central Kentucky Student Chapter, SCI was held November 9-14, 2008. Concerts included:
  • Sound Foundry November 9
  • Music of the 21st-Century November 10
  • Modern Classics Concert November 11
  • 60x60 November 13
  • Guest Performer Andrea Ceccomori, flute november 14

    • The third KENTUCKY NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL directed by Adam Sovkoplas and organized by the Central Kentucky Student Chapter, SCI was held October 19-26, 2009. Concerts included:
  • The Brass Arts Quintet October 19
  • 60x60 (2009) October 20
  • Hong Kong Composers on Chinese Instrumental Works October 22
  • 1st Kentucky Composers Invitational Concert October 23
  • The Osland/Dailey Jazztet October 25
  • Modern Classics Concert October 26

    • The fourth KENTUCKY NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL directed by Adam Sovkoplas and organized by the Central Kentucky Student Chapter, SCI was held October 17-24, 2010. Concerts included:
  • The 2nd Kentucky Composers Invitational Concert October 17
  • Raleigh Dailey Trio October 18
  • Modern Classics Concert October 19
  • 60x60 (2010 Magenta Mix) October 21
  • Visually Inspired lecture October 23
  • The Out of Bounds Ensemble October 23
  • The New Ranks of Organ Music October 24

    • The fifth KENTUCKY NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL directed by Adam Sovkoplas and organized by the Central Kentucky Student Chapter, SCI was held October 2-8, 2011. Concerts included:
  • The 3rd Kentucky Composers Invitational Concert October 2
  • University of Kentucky Composers Concert October 3
  • An Evening of Free Improvisation October 4
  • Modern Classics Concert and North Star Percussion October 5
  • UK Composers' Forum October 6
  • VideoARTmusiC October 6
  • Songs and Dreams; Dan Dutton October 7
  • 60x60 (2010) International Mix and more… October 8


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    Compositions

    Sorrow - for flute with piano (2005)
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    This recording of Sorrow was performed by students at Sam Houston State University.

    To see program notes for this piece, click     here.
    An American Elegy - for solo piano (2003)
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    This recording of An American Elegy was performed by Richard Urbis at the University of Texas at Brownsville.

    To see program notes for this piece, click here.
    Once Upon a Unicorn - solo clarinet (2012)
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    Once Upon a Unicorn is a musical dramatization of the poem "Unicorn" written by my great-aunt, Helen King Marolf. The composition was written for clarinetist Arianna Teighi and premiered in Perugia, Italy. The premiere performance may be viewed at: YouTube link

    To see program notes for this piece, click here.
    Saxophone Quartet No. 1: A Slice of Silverstein (2012)
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    This is a recording of the Saxophilia Saxophone Quartet performing III. Dancing Pants from my Saxophone Quartet No. 1 in 2012.

    To see program notes for this piece, click here.