BIO
Todd Coleman is a composer, bassist, educator, and the founding academic director of Elon University’s Music Production and Recording Arts (MPRA) program, where he has taught since 2007. Coleman’s music and his teaching often explore the intersection of the arts and technology, blurring boundaries between disciplines and musical styles. In addition to composing music for the concert hall, he has written soundtracks for films, documentary television, and most recently, for interactive escape rooms that are like live action video game experiences.
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.
Coleman's 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.
EDUCATION
D.M.A. in Composition
Eastman School of Music
Studied Composition with Joseph Schwantner, Christopher Rouse and Augusta Read Thomas. Studied bass with James VanDemark.
M.M. in Composition
Eastman School of Music
Studied Composition with Joseph Schwantner and David Liptak. Studied bass with James VanDemark.
B.M. in Composition
Brigham Young University
Studied composition with David Sargent, Michael Hicks, Stephen Jones, and Murray Boren. Studied bass with Walter Birkedahl.
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
