Thomas Massella, ASCAP, received his musical training at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Hartt School of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has had numerous performances of his instrumental and liturgical music throughout the United States, Europe and Canada. His music has been featured at the National Flute Convention, the International Double-Reed Convention, American Guild of Organists and several saxophone conventions. His successful collaboration with saxophonists has resulted in eight commissions that have received continued performances since 1982. In 2004 he received a Meet the Composer grant for the East Carolina University New Music Festival. In addition to his saxophone compositions, he has written commissions for Rhian Kenny, Principal Piccolo, Pittsburgh Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony Timpanist Timothy Adams, Telarc recording artist Yolanda Kondonassis, Cary Ebli of the Toronto Symphony, Robin Driscoll, Principal Oboe for the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and the New Century Saxophone Quartet.
Lovely compositions, Tom! Morning Music is beautiful, the oboe has a dark penetrating tone. Loved the saxophone in Lover's Lament. Can hear that easily in a movie. Wings of a Zephyr is Brittenesque and sounds like you used a processor, cool sound, fluid like water! Lament Death of Yitzhak Rabin is somber and soulful. Looking forward to hearing Smooth Ride for Fast Orchestra with the actual instruments. I am very fond of your music. I took a couple composition classes with Sherwood Shaffer and hear his influence most definitely, in fact isn't that where we met? My favorites music is from the 20th and 21st centuries, I will be back to listen often. The closest I have to anything like this is on my site is "A Child Is Born" by Dave Grusin. Want to rerecord Honneger Concerto for English horn and Flute. Hubert Laws was interested but has been so darned busy. Kerry Walsh said she'd love to do it. Perhaps we can collaborate. Thanks for the inspiration! Blessings, Anna Fisher
Hello Thomas Massella, Jr.! Great to hear from you after all these years. Has it really been that long? Feels like yesterday! What an awesome resume you've created! Glad you added me over here as well as Facebook. Six of one half dozen of the other, myspace is my preference but Facebook has some very cool features as well such as indexing alumni by their class! Take care! Peace and love, Always, Anna (Nancy)
