I am the composer... and you can find out more about each piece, including the performers, by clicking on "Lyrics" (which will give you program notes instead). Thanks for listening.
Influences
Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Blonde Redhead, The Beatles, Bjork, Dave Douglas, Keith Jarrett, Medeski Martin and Wood, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears... Bob Dylan, Of Montreal, Animal Collective
...JS Bach, Hector Berlioz, Alban Berg, Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky, Charles Ives, Béla Bartók, Dmitri Shostakovich, Harry Partch, Iannis Xenakis, Krzysztof Penderecki, György Ligeti, Wolfgang Rihm, Arvo Pärt...
this is by no means a complete list of my influences... it is a list of music and composers whose music I currently have in piles on my floor near my CD player
but honestly... everything in my life has influenced me... my experiences, my family, my friends, my mentors, my love for the outdoors and nature, my appreciation for every sound I can hear... and even ones I can not... good times, bad times, happy times and sad times... blah, blah, blah
and Mr. Carl Schexnayder (1940-1999)... director of bands at St. Amant High School... who inspired me to start writing music.
BEN STONAKER (b.1981) earned his Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2007, where he studied with James Mobberley, Chen Yi, and Paul Rudy. He earned his Bachelor of Music in composition from Louisiana State University in 2004, where he studied with Stephen David Beck. Stonaker received national recognition for his wind ensemble piece While We Were Yet Sinners at the National Band Association's biennial convention after being selected from a nationwide competition to be part of the NBA's 2002 Young Composer Mentor Project. He has had the opportunity to meet and work with several composers including Joan Tower, Mark Camphouse, David Gillingham, Frank Ticheli, Michael Daugherty, David Dzubay, Donald Grantham, Ian Krouse, and Libby Larsen.
In December 2005 Mr. Stonaker served on a distinguished panel and was a charter composer for the cutting edge project and forum, Renewing the Creative Environment at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.
Ben Stonaker, POOKA an overture for wind ensemble received honorable mention in the 2006 ASCAP/CBDNA Frederick Fennell Prize for The Best Original Score for Concert Band
Other accomplishments include a commission from Evergreen Junior High School in Houma, Louisiana for a middle school band contest piece (Narrow Loops) (2005-06). The piece was premiered in St. Cloud, Minnesota in March 2006 at the Great River Band Fest, where he was composer in residence for performances of Narrow Loops and While We Were Yet Sinners.
"Diversions" for alto saxophone and orchestra won the 2007-2008 UMKC Orchestra Composition Competition, and a performance in February, 2008, with UMKC Orchestra. Justin Bayne, solo alto saxophone.
"All Maroons and Grays" for tenor saxophone and prepared piano received a performance at the North American Saxophone Alliance National Conference in Columbia, South Carolina Friday, April 18, 2008. Justin Bayne, tenor saxophone - Ben Stonaker, prepared piano.
In other news, Ben Stonaker was recently invited to write a chapter in the 4th volume of Mark Camphouse's book series "Composers on Composing for Band" published by GIA. The book is now available at www.giamusic.com.
Anyone interested in my music
please send me a message, I'd be happy to send you free CDs!
bfs217@gmail.com
*Two-Seventeen Publishing Company (my publishing company) is in its early stages with expected launch date by the end of 2008. Until that time, please feel free to leave me a message about ordering music. Until the publishing company is up and running, the cost per piece is a small rate for printing and shipping. Please check the complete list of works in my blog - all completed works are available in hard copy format or FREE PDF!
yeah it was the mother of all ice storms, we still dont have electricity at our house. poor me. we survived just fine. i was at work, getting home was terrible. please send me some of your electric!!! please?
Hello! How have you been? I went to my high school reunion this past weekend. I was looking through the 1998 yearbook. I saw your picture in it and it brought back memories.
hey- my MOM picked out the glasses!!! When you're 11 it's kinda hard to pick out your own fashions!! What about that neck tie-strap thing you had?! haha
..
