Daniel Burwasser

Daniel Burwasser (born 1960, New Brunswick, NJ) is an American composer and teacher.

Biography

Early life and education

The grandson of opera singer Leo Burwasser (trained at the Odessa Conservatory), Burwasser has been writing and playing music since the age of five. Originally a student of the piano, he eventually progressed to other forms of percussion, including drum set and orchestral percussion. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Temple University in 1983, and then went on to receive his Master of Arts degree from Rutgers University in 1987 and his PhD. in Music Composition in 1993. During that time he studied with many of the music world's leading contemporary composers including Robert Moevs, Charles Wuorinen, Noel DaCosta, David Olan and David Del Tredicci. This myriad of influences can be heard in the diversity of Burwasser's own works.

Career

As a composer himself, Burwasser has scored music for the audio versions of children's books and for cable television productions. However, he is better known as the composer of classical works such as Flux, recorded by The Concordia Orchestra, Marin Alsop conductor; Catching Fireflies, recorded by The Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz conductor, and A Well Traveled Road: recorded by The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra ,Robert Stankovsky.conductor, all of which are available from MMC recordings. In February 2008, Burwasser's opera, One Night Together, was performed by The Downtown Chamber and Opera Players, Mimi Stern-Wolfe conductor and MusicAL director.

Currently, Burwasser is the instrumental music director for Talent Unlimited High School, a prestigious performing arts high school in New York City. He has also taught at Hunter College, Queens College, Columbia University Teachers College and Rutgers University.

Marriage and children

He lives in Manhattan with his wife, author Nancy E. Krulik, and their two children, Amanda and Ian.

Selected compositions

  • Duo for Horn and Cello (Ensemble Publications, 1997)
  • Mood Swing (for Brass Quintet) (Ensemble Publications, 1997)
  • Passages (for Horn Quartet) (Ensemble Publications, 1997)
  • Catching Fireflies (for Orchestra) (MMB Music, Inc., 1998)
  • A Well Traveled Road (for Orchestra) (MMB Music, Inc., 1998)
  • Ebb and Flow (for Orchestra) (MMB Music, Inc., 1998)

(Flux (for String Orchestra) (MMB Music, Inc., 2000)

References

Sources: