BIO

Todd Coleman is a composer, bassist, and the founding academic director of Elon University’s music production and recording arts degree program. His music has been performed by the Minnesota Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Ciompi Quartet, among others, as well as by many university-based ensembles and solo artists. His music for educational groups is published by Alfred Publishing and Falls House Press, a division of Theodore Presser. Coleman’s music and his teaching often explore the intersection of the arts and technology, blurring boundaries between disciplines and musical styles. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music (D.M.A. 2002, M.M. 1999) and Brigham Young University (B.M. 1996). He studied composition with Christopher Rouse, Joseph Schwantner, Augusta Read Thomas, David Liptak, Michael Hicks, Stephen Jones, David Sargent, and Murray Boren. Prior to coming to Elon University, Coleman taught at Grinnell College from 2003-07 and was a Curricular Technology Specialist in Fine Arts there from 2002-03.

 

EDUCATION

B.M. in Composition, 1996
Brigham Young University
Studied composition with David Sargent, Michael Hicks, Stephen Jones, and Murray Boren. Studied bass with Walter Birkedahl.

M.M. in Composition, 1999
Eastman School of Music
Studied Composition with Joseph Schwantner and David Liptak. Studied bass with James VanDemark.

D.M.A. in Composition, 2002
Eastman School of Music
Studied Composition with Joseph Schwantner, Christopher Rouse and Augusta Read Thomas. Studied bass with James VanDemark.

 

ABOUT HIS MUSIC

“Masterly orchestral craftsmanship... a feel for odd, refreshing sonorities, and expressive speech... More power to composers like [this].” – John van Rhein, Chicago Tribune

“His music-making is naturally expressive and has an elegance that is compelling.” – Augusta Read Thomas

“I find his music strong, imaginative and well crafted.” – Joseph Schwantner

“[Coleman's music is] new and fresh without being unapproachable or tradition-bound... I found it to be touching and wondrous.” – Glen Nelson

“The melodic invention, the craftsmanship of the presentation and above all the sheer luminosity of the textures I find very attractive.” – David Tutt

“As usual, Coleman writes a music that is as intense as it is magical, as powerful as sensible. The solo seems to slowly, softly exit from the clouds of a dream to reach the final climax in the most natural, spontaneous way... There is a very intense singing, here, and a very clever play of timbres.” – Paulo Tramannoni

“Wow! Beautiful!” – Kim Wells

 

INTERESTS

MUSIC PRODUCTION & RECORDING ARTS

As a composer, performer, producer, and recording engineer, Coleman practices the art of recording music in many styles and musical genres. This includes the elments of microphone choice and placement, preamplifiers, outboard gear such as compressors, fx plug-ins, and editing and mixing in commercial digital audio workstation software. Coleman has experience in both analog and digital recording, analog and digital synthesis, and MIDI. All of these topics fall under his creative and aesthetic interest in music and sound.

 

CONTRABASS & ELECTRIC BASS

Coleman has played the contrass since middle school, playing principal bass in orchestras from middle school through college. He studied with Walter Birkedahl at Brigham Young University and James VanDermark at the Eastman School of Music.

He also plays the electric bass. Coleman began by learning the 70s and early 80s catalogue of music by Rush, Yes, Chicago, and U2.   

 

LANGUAGE

In the summer of 2004, Coleman began learning sign language to be able to communicate with deaf members of his local church congregation. He has come to love and appreciate the beauty, richness, and uniqueness of sign language, and continuously works to improve his skills in ASL.

Coleman's experience with Laotian language and culture began with his call to serve a mission to Minnesota during the early 1990's. He received a two-month "crash course" in reading, writing, and speaking Laotian, followed by 22 months of service teaching (and being taught by) the Lao people of Minnesota. He served most of his mission in the Minneapolis area, but also served for a time in St. Cloud and Warroad. That experience and the people he met have greatly influenced and enriched his life. He continues to keep up his language skills as time allows and to try and maintain contact with the Lao community in whatever area he resides. 

 

WEB DESIGN

Coleman began learning web design skills during the early days of the Internet, including HTML authoring and image editing software programs. These skills, in combination with related experience in video and multimedia CD-ROM authoring led to Coleman's position as a Curricular Technology Specialist in Fine Arts at Grinnell College from 2002-2003. During that time, he assisted faculty members at the College in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing a variety of technology-based pedagogical tools including websites, Flash modules, Director projects for CD-ROM and web delivery, multimedia presentation, Podcasts, etc.

 

FLIGHT SIMULATION

One of Coleman's hobbies is his home flight simulator which he built primarily as a Cessna 172 trainer. He enjoys virtually flying all over the world when he is taking a break from composing.