Travis Alford - Composer, Performer, Improviser, Educator


Photo by David Peth

Travis Alford (b. 1983) is a composer, trumpeter, improviser, and educator whose music has been heard across the United States, Canada, Italy, Greece, and Australia. He has collaborated with a variety of ensembles and musicians on the creation and performance of his compositions, including the Lorelei Ensemble, the Meridian Arts Ensemble, Talujon Percussion, the Genkin Philharmonic, Wild Rumpus New Music, the East Coast Contemporary Ensemble, L'Arsenale, the Jack Quartet, trombonist Benjamin Herrington, and clarinetist Christopher Grymes. His work has also received recognition from the League of Composers/ISCM, ASCAP, the American Composers Alliance, the Atlantic Center for the Arts, and the Brandeis Office of the Arts. As a performer, Travis plays with The Gentlemen's Very (Very) High Art Society of South Waltham, the Park Street Brass, and the Northeast Italian Band. Being a North Carolina native, he can also be found blowing on the harmonica from time to time.

Travis is currently a Lecturer in Music at Brandeis University, MIT, and Gordon College, and holds degrees from Brandeis (PhD, Music Composition and Theory, '14), the New England Conservatory (MM '08), and East Carolina University (BM '05). He lives in West Newton, MA with his wife, Lauren, their dog, Toby, and their forthcoming son.

www.travisalford.com

Compositions

O Fragile Human, Speak... for 8 Female Voices and 3 Trumpets (2014)
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This work was commissioned by the Lorelei Ensemble of Boston (Beth Willer, director) and premiered on May 23, 2014.

Self, Analyzed for flute, bass clarinet, percussion, guitar, and toy piano (2010)
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Performance by ECCE (Jeff Means, conductor), May 3, 2011. Winner of the 2012 League of Composers/ISCM Composers Prize.
Emily's Window (Mvts. 2 & 3), a song cycle for Soprano, Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, and piano (2013)
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Written in partial fulfillment of the PhD in Music Composition and Theory, Brandeis University. The entire cycle consists on 7 settings of the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Included here are Mvts. 2 & 3: "Heart, Not so Heavy as Mine" & "It Rises...". Premiered May 4, 2013 by Kimberly Soby (sop), Gleb Kanasevich (clar), and Yoko Hagino (pno).
Havoc! for 10-piece rock chamber ensemble (2012)
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Written for/ premiered by the Genkin Philharmonic (Jon Nelson, director), January 26, 2013.