Born in 1969, American composer Eric Sessler, has received numerous awards, including the ASCAP Foundation Award, the Charles E. Ives Scholarship from the American Acedmy of Arts and Letters, the Theodore Presser Music Foundation Award, and the Meet the Composer Grant.
Among the performing organizations to commission works from Mr. Sessler are Concerto Soloists, The Music Group of Philadelphia, Cantabile Chamber Chorale, Ursinus College, The Red Heel Theatre, Astral Artistic Services, Holy Trinity Church Choir and the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.
The Inquisitive Prince (a one-act chamber opera), was premiered April 18, 1993 in Philadelphia by the Curtis Opera Studio and subsequently performed in Budapest, Hungary by the Merlin Opera Studio in 1997.
The Red Heel Theatre premiered incidental music for The Changeling (a 17th century play by Thomas Middelton and William Rowley) at Philadelphiaís renowned playhouse The Walnut Street Theatre in 1994. The music was performed onstage in costume as an integral part of the show during the lengthy run.
Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia has performed several compositions by Eric Sessler including Three Pieces for String Orchestra in 1995 and Autumn in 1996. Autumn was commissioned as part of the ìPhiladelphia Four Seasons Projectî-a multi-media concert, which combined music with poetry and visual art.
Songs of the King, scored for soprano solo, mixed chorus, five obbligato instruments and string orchestra was premiered by The Music Group of Philadelphia in collaboration with Orchestra 2001 on May 12, 1995.
The Senior Choir of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church premiered Venite Exsultemus Domino on May 21, 1995, followed by additional performances during the choirís summer tour of Russia and Finland.
The Juilliard Symphony Orchestra premiered Orchestral Variations on May 1, 1997 in Alice Tully Hall in New Yorkís Lincoln Center.
Sonata No. 1 was premiered by young guitar virtuoso Jason Vieaux on January 23, 1998. Mr. Vieaux has subsequently performed the work in over thirty cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Canadian Publisher, Les Productions díOZ published Sonata No. 1 in 1998.
Organ virtuoso, Alan Morrison, premiered Fantasy for organ at Ursinus College in 1998. Mr. Morrison will be recording the work on ACA Albany records in 2001.
In Excelsis Gloria was premiered by the Holy Trinity Church Choir during the Christmas Eve services in 1999. The piece was commissioned especially for inclusion in the choirs nine lessons and nine carols service.
The Angel Bride, scored for choir and piano was premiered by Cantabile Chamber Chorale on May 13, 2000 in Piscataway, NJ. Cantabile continues to program the work on upcoming recitals.
Eric Sessler studied composition at The Juilliard School and The Curtis Institute of Music where his teachers were Samuel Adler, David Diamond and Ned Rorem. Additionally, Mr. Sessler studied classical guitar at Manhattan School of Music with Nicholas Goluses.
Also an active teacher, Mr. Sessler is on the music faculty of The Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School Pre-College and Chestnut Hill College.
Since 1993, Eric Sessler has been affiliated with Astral Artistic Services, a non-profit organization entirely dedicated to serving the artistic and professional needs of the nationís most promising, emerging classical musicians. Through debut recitals, networking, promotion and outreach programs, Astral brings opportunities and national attention to their developing careers.