MICHAEL PATTERSON
Puerto Rican-American composer MICHAEL PATTERSON composes for a wide array of styles and ensembles including wind ensemble, orchestra, chorus, solo and chamber ensemble, film score, jazz/latin ensemble, ballet and more. Living in the DMV area (D.C., Maryland, Virginia), Michael works as a composer, conductor, pianist and educator. His works have been premiered in the Czech Republic, Puerto Rico, England, South Africa, and across the USA.
Michael attended the Bard Conservatory of Music in central NY, where he studied and assisted American composer Joan Tower. Additionally, Michael studied with George Tsontakis and Lera Auerbach. While at Bard, his compositions were performed by the Da Capo Chamber Players, Bard’s new music ensemble in residence. Michael worked very closely with the composition department, conducting the premieres of several composition students’ works. His masters degree is in Instrumental Conducting.
Michael currently serves on faculty at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. There he works as Director of Wind Studies directing the university wind ensemble. He also serves on composition faculty, as well as teaching conducting and music technology.
In addition to WAU, Michael also serves as Minister of Music at the Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. There he serves as director of the Spencerville Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra. Michael has premiered multiple choral introits and anthems during worship services.
Michael’s work “City of Serenity” for wind ensemble was premiered at Festival ForFest in Kromeriz, Czech Republic in 2017, representing new music from the USA. The work was performed by the La Sierra University Wind Ensemble. In 2012, the PianoForte Symphony Orchestra commissioned the work “Symphony of Our Father”, a four-movement symphonic work based loosely based on the idea of the christian Trinity. Other notable works include a film score for “Little Daylight”, an award wining short film based, and Voice of the Wind for piano trio.
Michael’s hopes and goals as a composer is to see a forward motion of music that will incorporate electronics into the art music sphere as a common and accessible sonic experience, as well as a desire to hear Latin American sounds and rhythms as a part of a common palette.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Etudes for electro-prepared piano
Groove! A Toccata for Piano
Pillars and Cascades - A Toccata for Organ
Chituaqua: wind ensemble
SELECTED MEDIA
As Water to the Thirsty (2020)
Robert Martinez, voice
Michael Patterson, piano