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Composers Forum |
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Question #16 - How supported do you feel in your compositional efforts? This can be addressed at the individual level (e.g., friends and family members) and at the level of society (e.g., government, music education in the United States). MSB - M. Susan Brown; SH - Steve Hahn; TK - Tim Krueger; TS - Terry Schlenker |
| MSB - My close friends and family have been very supportive of my compositional efforts. This has been a source of great joy to me, as each composition seems a bit like an offspring! At the societal level, I have not sought recognition, and the purpose of my writing is not to appeal to the larger audience or to win prizes, albeit I have. My music is very personal on purpose, so the support comes at that level. SH - I’ve received a lot of support from some individuals. Earlier in my career, I received grants from a variety of government sources and from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District [a six-county region in the Denver area in which a percentage of sales taxes goes to support scientific and cultural endeavors]. Sadly, many of those grants no longer exist. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Colorado Council of the Arts no longer give grants to individuals (the NEA only supports jazz masters); nor does the SCFD in Denver County. There are very few sources of financial support for individual artists. It is difficult for someone who has been educated in music to go head-to-head with generations in which music has not been taught in the schools and in whom an appreciation for music and the arts in general has not been cultivated. Clear Channel puts a bland, uncreative “brand” of music on the airwaves, and they dominate the media, so that’s what people hear and think is good music. TK - At the individual level, I feel very supported by Connie Delzell, the Rector at St. Andrew’s [Episcopal Church, Denver]. She is very positive and has encouraged to compose more. I also feel very supported by singers in the St. Martin’s Chamber Choir and the choir at St. Andrew’s. They seem to really like my music. My wife is also a tremendous supporter. She is very appreciative of my work. At the societal level, I may one day be supported by a larger circle if and when a piece of my music is published. As a “functional” composer, it may be easier to get my music published in the short term (probably in the next 20 years) than in the longer term. TS - Locally, I feel extremely well supported. Tim Krueger and St. Martin’s Chamber Choir have been very instrumental in launching my career as a choral composer. They continue to provide the stellar, flawless performances and recordings that are essential to my success as a composer. The members and former members of the board of St. Martin’s have also been very supportive. Cheryl Carnahan has given me great support and understanding, being a musician and having a brother who is a composer. Mark Sheldon was a very strong supporter and was instrumental in having my music heard on KVOD and radio stations across the country. He introduced my music to Monika Vischer and Dan Dreyer, who seem to continue to believe that my music needs to be heard in this way. Sue Coffee of Sound Circle and formerly with the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus continues to support and commission my work. I have numerous friends who never miss a concert. Finding my voice beyond this has not been as easy. Publishers are businesses that look for music that is marketable and has a wide appeal. My music tends to be too challenging and introspective for them. Directors of professional choirs get piles of music mailed to them; therefore, it is difficult to get them to even look at the music of a composer who is unknown to them. I am extremely grateful for the support I have had, and I consider what has come to me through music to be a great gift. I try not to ask for more than what comes to me. |