A dual Irish-American citizen, Michael Remson is emerging as an exciting voice in American opera and libretto writing. Currently at work on operas for premieres/workshops for 2007 and 2008, his work demonstrates his growing strength as a vocal composer and musical dramatist.
Primarily known as a composer of vocal, choral and operatic works, Remson’s work was featured throughout the United States in 2005-2006. His opera, Mary Surratt recently received support from Houston’s Cultural Arts Council and was the focus of a series of workshops in 2005. It is scheduled to premiere in 2008. He has also completed the libretto for a second opera, The Breath of Life, in collaboration with composer Jefferson Todd Frazier for the Society for Performing Arts Houston that is scheduled to premiere in the fall of 2007. Remson recently created the music for a new ballet, Collapsible Rhythms, with choreographer and Houston Ballet artistic director Stanton Welch that premiered in July of 2005. Other commissions include new works for the Hardin Simmons Orchestra and the Cappelletti-Chao duo. In addition to these commissions, Remson’s Variations for Flute and Piano was featured by the American Festival for the Arts, the Foundation for Modern Music and the National Association of Composers Texas Chapter. His opera, The Last Leaf, received its first full staging at Texas Tech University Opera in January of 2006.
Over the last few years, Dr. Remson's works have received numerous performances in the United States and in Europe. His Celebration, commissioned by the Rhode Island College Choruses and with poetry by Laurence Sasso, premiered in April 2004 and toured Scotland and Wales the next month. The Abilene Collegiate Opera produced his children’s opera, Sibanda: A Tale from Africa, in 2004 after a successful premiere and 22 subsequent performances by Houston Grand Opera/Opera To Go in 2003. His After Whitman was premiered by baritone Omari Tau Williams in Houston; a new organ work, Whistle Stop, premiered at the Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative (EROI) and was performed throughout the USA; and his choral work Chamber Music toured Ireland after a successful New England premiere and tour.
Remson completed doctoral studies in composition with Grammy Award winner Carlisle Floyd and Robert Nelson and studied libretto and playwriting with Floyd and Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Albee. He has received fellowships from the Tyrone Guthrie Center (Annaghmakerrig, Ireland), the Ragdale Foundation, the Ucross Foundation and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA). He was featured in New York City Opera’s Showcasing American Composers series, has received grant support from the American Music Center and the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County, and served as Composer-in-Residence with the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as recipient of a prestigious award from the Americans for the Arts Foundation (ARTS-USA), the Northern Ireland Arts Council and the Irish Arts Council.
In addition to his creative work, Dr. Remson is respected as an instructor in composition, American music, opera history, film music and ethnomusicology. He is Executive Director of the American Festival for the Arts (AFA) summer music conservatory where, as part of his composition teaching, his students have continued their studies at Juilliard, Eastman, Oberlin and USC among others. Dr. Remson is a faculty member at the Houston Ballet Academy, a Lecturer at the University of Houston Moores School of Music and a collaborative artist for Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Performing Arts. He has taught or guest lectured at Houston Community College, Carnegie Mellon University, the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Victoria College and the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.
The author of several articles, Scarecrow Press published his biography of nineteenth-century American songwriter Septimus Winner (a.k.a. Alice Hawthorne) and a companion volume of Winner's best-known songs. Dr. Remson presented this topic at the national conference of the College Music Society and at the Society for American Music.
A native of New York City, Dr. Remson attended Columbia University and is an alumnus of New York University (BA, Vocal Performance/Composition, 1989), the University of Houston (DMA, Composition, 1997; MM, Musicology, 2000) and Carnegie Mellon University (MM, Composition, 1992). His teachers (in addition to Floyd, Nelson and Albee) include Nancy Galbraith, Leonardo Balada and Judy Klein. Excerpts of his works may be heard at www.MichaelRemson.com. He currently lives in Houston, Texas.What People Have Said About Michael Remson
"…Strong vocal lines… gave the text punch… too seductive…" – Charles Ward, The Houston Chronicle.
"…Intelligent and gifted… an uncommon cultural literacy… (He will) continue to grow in the years ahead." – Carlisle Floyd, composer of Susannah, Cold Sassy Tree and Of Mice and Men.
"…Unique and valuable… overjoyed with (his works)… impeccable preparation and impressive talent." – J. Todd Frazier, Executive Director, American Festival for the Arts.
"…Aptly suited to theatrical music… a fertile imagination and unique abilities…" – Dr. Robert Nelson, composer of A Room with a View.
"…Different… unusual instrumentation… consistently enjoyable…" – Charles Ward, The Houston Chronicle.
"…Great gifts as a composer for the voice…" – Steven A. Honley, The State.
Publicity Links
Article from the AMA News on the new opera, The Breath of Life: CLICK HERE
Press Release for Sibanda premiere at Houston Community College (Download only): CLICK HERE
Society for American Music Conference Schedule (March 2003): CLICK HERE
Publicity from Rhode Island College's Tour of Ireland: CLICK HERE
Faculty bio from the American Festival for the Arts: CLICK HERE
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