Justin
Freer
composer l arranger l conductor l musician
History:
American composer JUSTIN FREER was born in 1980 in Huntington
Beach, CA, and is rapidly establishing himself as one of the West
Coast's most exciting musical voices.
At age twenty-six he has over 40 compositions to his credit and
has written music for world-renowned trumpeters Doc Severinson (former
Tonight Show band leader) and Jens Lindemann (former principal trumpet,
Canadian Brass). Freer has served as composer for several independent
films including: Jahim Jones' film, Generation Never; which was
screened at both the Cannes and Los Angeles film festivals, and
the orchestral score to the Aaron Bitzer film, Horse Trip.
The Orange County
Register has described Freer's music as "Brilliant…a sea
of color that moves in waves of searing passion." World-renowned
wind conductor Dr. Rikard Hansen has noted that, "In totality,
Freer's exploration in musical sound evoke moments of highly charged
drama, alarming strife and serene reflection."
In recent seasons
his works have been performed by the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra
and the wind ensembles of Indiana University, UCLA, St. Cloud State
University, and Cal State University, Los Angeles, among others.
Recent premieres include Make It So, commissioned by the Henry Mancini
Institute Orchestra, and Liberty Fallen, commissioned by the St.
Cloud State University Wind Ensemble in conjunction with the American
Composers Forum, which premiered to astounding critical success
at Benson Great Hall, Minnesota.
Freer has been awarded the Henry Mancini Award for Music Composition
in Television and Motion Pictures, a Society of Composers and Lyricists
internship award to study with composer Jay Chattaway, a Hatz Special
Recognition Award from the National Federation of Music Clubs, was
among the finalists for the 2005 ASCAP Morton Gould Award and recently
received an ASCAP Foundation Fellowship, presented at Lincoln Center.
In addition
to his endeavors as a composer, he has served as pianist for the
American Youth Symphony and Debut Orchestra. He has also worked
with the London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Neville Mariner, conductor,
and the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Carl St. Clair, conductor, on
recordings of Paul Chihara's orchestral works. Freer formerly held
the post of Music Director for the acclaimed UCLA Brass Choir, a
position he held for two years, and whom he has led in performances
with Sir Angel Romero, Doc Severinson and Jens Lindemann.
Mr. Freer earned
both his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Music Composition from UCLA, where
his principal composition teachers included Paul Chihara, Ian Krouse
and Roger Bourland. In addition, he has studied composition with
legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith. He resides in Los Angeles where
he is slated to take the post of Music Director of the newly founded
Los Angeles Brass Ensemble.
Current Credits:
Freer attended the Society of Composers, Inc. National Conference
in San Antonio, Texas, where he spoke on the Pedagogy of Composition
Panel to some of the most well respected composers in the country.
His work Liberty Fallen appeared at the 73rd annual American
Bandmasters Association Convention in San Luis Obispo, CA, under
the baton of Dr. Rikard Hansen. In March 2007 Freer compositions
Broken Altar and Liberty Fallen were played by the UCLA Wind Ensemble
and guests St. Cloud State Unviersity Wind Ensemble at the Friday
March 9 concert at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall
Freer compositions Broken Altar and Liberty
Fallen played by the UCLA Wind Ensemble and guests St. Cloud State
Unviersity Wind Ensemble at the Friday March 9 concert at UCLA's
Schoenberg Hall
Upcoming recording
projects include an album of new American music for wind ensemble,
which Freer will share with mentor and composer Ian Krouse. Freer
has also been engaged to compose music for and help produce an album
of new works to be recorded by the top horn players in Los Angeles,
entitled The Los Angeles Horn Sound.
 
Contact:
studioexpresso
copyright 2004 studioexpresso
|
