O'DELL, Adam D.

O'DELL, Adam D. (Dubuque, IA, 1992-- ). O'Dell began his musical training at the age of eight studying piano and made his compositional debut as a freshman in high school. Upon graduation from DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL in 2011, Adam was awarded the “Gold Award” in both band and choir, as well as the “Artistic Achievement Award”, which is given to students who excel in performance, recording, and composition.

Beginning in 2011, Adam was enrolled as a Music Composition major at CLARKE UNIVERSITY in Dubuque, studying composition with Dr. Amy Dunker, and piano with Nancy Lease and Dr. Sharon Jensen. He also worked as a professional composer, accompanist, sound designer, and private instructor.

Adam performed/presented works in workshops and masterclasses by renowned composers Mara Gibson, Chen Yi, James Mobberley, Christopher Young, and Michael Schelle, and performers Jeff Coffin, Gary Morris, Farah Alvin, and the Transcontinental Piano Duo. His compositions were selected as the winning pieces of the Tri-State Wind Symphony Fanfare Composition Contest, MakeMusic Inc. “Take Your Music Farther with Garritan” Composition Contest, and the Kansas City Orchestral Composition Competition.

His work in theatrical scoring was featured at the Iowa and International Thespian Festivals, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, where he was awarded the Certificate of Merit for Original Score, and a nomination for the KCACTF National Award for Excellence in Sound Design. His sound design and original score for “I Am Not Batman” was featured at the Kennedy Center in April 2013, and his KCACTF award winning score for “The Glass Menagerie” was featured at the National Sound Design Expo. He recently finished writing the music for “Marley: A Musical Tragedy” with librettist Joey Stamp which was premiered in New York City at the Cabrini Repertory Theatre's Thespis Playwright's Festival.

His works were performed by numerous educational, community, and professional ensembles, including the Tri-State Wind Symphony, Clarke Collegiate and Cantabile Singers, Clarke Jazz, Wind, and Brass ensembles, [[DUBUQUE SYMPHONY, Abbellimenti string quartet, newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City. His pieces were aso featured at multiple Society of Composer's festivals, Iowa Bandmaster's Association conferences, and the PARMA Music Festival. Recent commissions include the Dubuque Youth Symphony, Dubuque County Fine Arts Society, and the Julien Chamber Choir. He was selected as a composer for collaborative New Music projects with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Saxophone Department, and the Arizona State University Clarinet Department.

O'Dell, a published academic writer, gave numerous guest lectures, presentations, and masterclasses in composition. In performance, his work as a pianist and percussionist garnered awards from the Iowa Music Teacher's Association, Coe College and University of Wisconsin-Platteville Jazz festivals, and “Best in Room” at the Iowa Solo and Ensemble Festivals. O'Dell's "The Black Hills Overture," won the 2013 Kansas City Orchestral Composition.

Sunrise.

By Adam D. O'Dell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifJx0cDbZHM

Toccata by Aram Khachaturian - Performed by Adam O'Dell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObEPuoKD2GI

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Source:

Adam D. O'Dell | Composer, Arranger, Pianist, Educator. http://www.adamdodell.com/

Composers Circle. http://composerscircle.com/adam-d-odell/

"Local Composer Wins Top Honor," Telegraph Herald, June 27, 2013, p. 1D