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Alasdair
MacLean has a growing reputation as one of eastern
Canada's most accomplished professional composers. From early influences
in classical and popular music, MacLean has parlayed his wide-ranging
creative interests into composition studies in Canada, the United
States and France. His works, for solo instruments and voice, chamber
ensembles, chorus and orchestra, have been described by critics
as displaying "restless resourcefulness" and "hypnotic intensity".
Alasdair MacLean's experience as a musician and composer
is wide-ranging. After childhood piano lessons, he began playing
in a rock band at age 13, and continued performing rock and pop
music until university, where he began formal studies again. While
at Mount Allison University, he also became active in Windsor Theatre
as an arranger, composer and pianist. His compositions have been
gaining increased exposure on the Canadian new music scene; his
works have been performed in Canada from coast to coast, as well
as in the United States, Britain, France, China and Japan.
MacLean's appointment as the first Composer-in- Residence
with Symphony Nova Scotia (October 1996) resulted in six works for
the ensemble over four years: four for orchestra, one for chorus
and orchestra, plus a CBC-commissioned piano concerto. He also participated
in the 'Music to Your Ears' community outreach program in Halifax
schools, and gave pre-concert chats for the orchestra's Celebrity
Series. Outgrowths of MacLean's symphony activities included participation
in Changing Arts Practices projects with British composer and improvisor
Peter Weigold, as well as adjudicating the first-ever composition
classes held in the Halifax Kiwanis Music Festival.
In July 2001, Alasdair MacLean was appointed Composer-in-Residence
for Debut Atlantic, eastern Canada's premier classical music touring
organization, and has written six new works for selected solo and
chamber Debut artists during the past two years. Based on the overwhelming
success of the residency, support for the position has been extended
for a third year into the 2003-2004 concert season.
Education
| 1982 |
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B.
Mus., Piano, Mount Allison University |
| 1985 |
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B.
Mus., Composition, The Juilliard School |
| 1986 |
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M.
Mus., Composition, The Juilliard School |
| 1986 |
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Diplôme
d'Honneur de Composition L'Ecole d'Art americaines Fontainebleau,
France |
| 1996 |
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Mus.
Doc., Composition University of Toronto |
Membership
American Federation of Musicians, Local 571
Canadian Music Centre (Associate Composer, Board Member)
Canadian League of Composers
Atlantic Canada Composers' Association
SOCAN
The Royal Society of the Arts
Contact
E-mail: alasdairmaclean@eastlink.ca |
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