Guest Bios

D.J. Sparr - Composer-in-Residence


D. J. Sparr’s musical compositions and guitar playing traverse many genres of music. Sparr was awarded the $10,000 grand prize in the orchestra category of the BMG/Williams College National Young Composers Competition, and was an alternate for the 1998-99 Rome Prize. He received BMI Student Composer Awards in 1995 and 2000, and has received awards and recognition from the American Music Center, the Composers’ Guild, Eastman School of Music, George Washington University, New York Youth Symphony, and the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble. His music has been commissioned and performed by groups such as the Albany Symphony, the Berkshire Symphony, Carroll County Children’s Chorus, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic, Eighth Blackbird, the Los Angeles ‘Debut’ Orchestra, New Music Detroit, North/South Consonance, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Verge Ensemble, and Wet Ink. D. J. received his Bachelors of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, his Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Michigan, and is a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts. His teachers include Michael Daugherty, William Bolcom, Sydney Hodkinson, Christopher Rouse, Joseph Schwantner, and Augusta Read Thomas.

D. J. has taught at the University of Michigan, Salisbury University, Walden School for Musicians, and West Los Angeles College. He is known for his ability to communicate and work with people of all ages.