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.

Since 2011, Adam has been 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 works as a professional composer, accompanist, sound designer, and private instructor.

Adam has 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 have been selected as the winning pieces of the Tri-State Wind Symphony Fanfare Composition Contest, the MakeMusic Inc. “Take Your Music Farther with Garritan” Composition Contest, and the Kansas City Orchestral Composition Competition.

His work in theatrical scoring has been 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 is set to premiere in New York City at the Cabrini Repertory Theatre's Thespis Playwright's festival in August.

His works have been performed by numerous educational, community, and professional ensembles, including the Tri-State Wind Symphony, the Clarke Collegiate and Cantabile Singers, the Clarke Jazz, Wind, and Brass ensembles, the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, the Abbellimenti string quartet, the newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City. His pieces have also been featured at multiple Society of Composer's festivals, the Iowa Bandmaster's Association conference, and the PARMA Music Festival. Recent commissions include the Dubuque Youth Symphony, the Dubuque County Fine Arts Society, and the Julien Chamber Choir. He has been 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 is a published academic writer, and has given numerous guest lectures, presentations, and masterclasses in composition. In performance, his work as a pianist and percussionist has garnered awards from the Iowa Music Teacher's Association, the 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," was the winner of 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