Curriculum Vitae
DR. SARA EMILY DONCASTER
128 Main Street, P.O. Box 116 Coventry, Vermont 05825
802/754-6335 saraedoncaster@gmail.com
1. Personal History
Birth Date: May 12, 1964
Education:
Ph.D., Theory & Composition, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 2006
Dissertation Committee Chair: David Rakowski Paper: “Formal Process in Seymour Shifrin’s String Quartet No. 4.” Composition: Supernatural Songs – 12 poems by William Butler Yeats for tenor, three sopranos, 13 instruments
Composition Teachers: Allen Anderson, Martin Boykan, Yehudi Wyner
M.F.A., Theory & Composition, Brandeis University, 2001
Thesis Composition: Biblical Sonnets – five poems by Gregory Djanikian for baritone and 13 instruments
B.Mus., Theory & Composition/Piano Performance, Boston University, Boston, MA, 1988 Graduated Cum Laude. Departmental Honors Award, 1988
Teachers: Charles Fussell, composition; Benjamin Pasternak, Piano
Graduate, Lake Region Union High School, Barton, VT, 1982
2. Experience
Music Educator, Lake Region Union High School, Orleans, Vermont 2012 – Present Director of Band, Jazz Band, Chorus & Chamber Singers. Courses taught: Music Fundamentals, AP Music Theory, Music History & Composition
Music Educator, North Country Schools, Newport Vermont 2000 – 2012
Pre K-8 General Music, Choral and Band
Founder/Director, Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival 1990 – 2012
Summer concert series and educational institute devoted to the performance and composition of modern chamber and vocal music. Classes in instrumental music, voice, composition. Chamber music and choral singing for students of all ages.
3. Awards & Honors
Vermont State Teacher of the Year Runner-Up, 2017
University of Vermont Outstanding Teacher, 2017
Lake Region UHS Teacher of the Year, 2017
Nominee, Music Prize, American Academy of Arts and Letters – November 2009 Fellowship, The Corporation of Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, New York, February – March 2009 Creation Grant, Vermont Community Foundation, Ruth, cantata for Northsong, Newport, VT, 2006-07 Opportunity – Artist Project Grant, Vermont Arts Council – to support the completion of the piano / vocal score of the opera “Coriander and a Penny’s Worth of Lonesome,” 2005 – 2006 Fellowships, Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest Illinois, August 2004 and August 2003 Fellowship, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, Virginia, Summer 2002 Charles Ives Scholarship, American Academy of Arts & Letters, May 2000
ASCAP Standard Awards, 2001 – Present
Fellowship, MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire, February– March 2001 Fellowship, The Corporation of Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, New York, November – December 2000 Finalist, National Symphony Orchestra Composer Commission Competition (VT), 2000 Fellow, Composers Conference at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, Summer 2000 Nominee, Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund Annual Prize, Fall 2000
Residency, Millay Colony for the Arts, Austerlitz, NY, March 2000.
Jean & Louis Dreyfus Foundation Endowed Fellowship Citation of Merit for Distinguished Service to the Arts, Vermont Arts Council, March 2000
3. Awards & Honors (continued)
Dawn Upshaw Master class of 20th Century Song, Brandeis University, October 1999 Production Assistance Grants, American Composers Forum and the Vermont Community Foundation, 1999
Fellow, MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire, January 1998
Production Assistance Grant for Biblical Sonnets, Vermont Community Foundation Arts Endowment Fund, 1994
Composition Fellow, June in Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, 1991
4. Commissions
Ruth: Part Three – SATB Chorus, soloists, clarinet & piano. Mastersingers, Arlington, MA, 2016 Early Summer Morning & Summer Evening – SATB Chorus. Social Band, Burlington, VT, 2011 Three Verses – SATB Chorus. “Deadline,” “Voices,” “Prayer” –Social Band, Burlington, VT, 2009 Piano Trio – Empyrean Ensemble, University of California – Davis, Laurie San Martin, Director. Premiere: 3/09.
Anniversary Anthem – SATB Chorus. Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. Premiere: November 2008 Rush Patrick’s Vision, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Burlington, VT, Made in Vermont Tour, 2007. After the Comet Hyakutake, SATB chorus, Social Band Fall 2007, Burlington, Vermont. Legends, for Level 2 Suzuki piano trio, Green Mountain Suzuki Institute, Rochester, VT, Spring 2007. Song of Nature – A Meditation on Words by Ralph Waldo Emerson for Soprano and String Orchestra. Alberto Santana, Hungarian Chamber Symphony Orchestra, Budapest, Hungary. Premiere: 11/18/2005 The Quangle Wangle’s Hat, poem by Edward Lear, SATB chorus, Social Band, Burlington, VT, 2004. The Great “O” Antiphons, SATB chorus, Episcopal Cathedral of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, 2004. Center of Intent for cl/bass cl, violin, cello and piano, Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble, 2003. Donal Og, SAB Chorus, premiered by Village Harmony Adult Camp, August 2001 Three Irish Hymns, SAB Chorus, Village Harmony, 2000.
Rhapsody, Dinosaur Annex Music Ensemble, Boston, MA, 1998
Ring of Hills (Flute and Dilling Harp), Jocelyn Chang, harpist; Matthew Doherty, Flutist, 1997. Ave Maria, Master Singers, Lexington, MA, 1996
The Turning, Christopher Morris, Northwestern University Wind Ensemble, Evanstan, IL, 1990
5. Licenses & Memberships
National Network of State Teachers of the Year, Member, 2017 to Present
ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) – Author and Publisher Member State of Vermont Level II Educators License, Music Endorsement. Pre K – 12 (Choral and Instrumental).
Highly Qualified Teacher, State of Vermont, 2006
6. Compositions (premiere and selected performances)
1. Ruth:Part 3 – SATB Chorus, clarinet and piano. Master Singers, Lexington, MA, Adam Grossman, Conductor; 2016.
2. Carl Sandburg Songs – seven songs for tenor, clarinet, viola and piano on poems by Carl Sandburg. “Clark Street Bridge,” “I Sang” and “Lesson”. Premiered July 2011 by Jon Garrison, Mark Margolies, Jennifer Stirling and Paul Jacobs. Set of five songs performed at Warebrook, 2012 with Jon Garrison, Mark Margolies, Leslie Perna and Danny Padgett.
3. Songs of Whimsy and Devotion, 2010 – 2012 – twelve songs for tenor and piano. Poems by Vachel Lindsay and Willam Butler Yeats. Six songs premiered July by Jon Garrison and Daniel Padgett, July 16, 2010. Complete cycle performed, May 2012.
4.Early Summer Morning & Summer Evening, 2011 (commission: Social Band, Burlington, VT) SATB Chorus. Poems by Burt Porter. Social Band, Burlington, VT. Premiered November 2011 in Richmond, VT and subsequently performed in three other venues. CD release, 2012. Performed 2017 – Newton High School Honor Choir, Adam Grossman, Conductor.
6. Compositions (premiere and selected performances, continued)
5. Song of Nature: A Meditation on Words by Ralph Waldo Emerson for tenor and string quartet. Original Version scored for soprano and string orchestra. Rescored and revised version premiered by Jon Garrison (tenor), Paul Brust (conductor) & Warebrook String Quartet, July 2010. 6. Coriander and A Penny’s Worth of Lonesome – two act opera (piano/vocal score) Libretto by Ronald Falzone. Concert performance of selected scenes, Warebrook Opera Workshop/Contemporary Music Festival, July 9, 2009.
7. Piano Trio, 2009 (commission: Empyrean Ensemble, Davis, CA) Premiere: Empyrean Ensemble, March 15, 2009
8.Three Verses, 2009 (commission, Social Band, Burlington, VT) – SATB Chorus. Premiere: Social Band, March 2009 “Deadline,” “Voices” and “Prayer” – text by the composer. 2nd performance, 2018. 9. We Sing of God, 2008 (commission: Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Episcopal), Burlington, VT) SATB anthem for the 175th Anniversary of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont
10. At That Hour – six poems by James Joyce for tenor and six instruments. Premiered July 12, 2008., Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival. Jon Garrison, tenor. Longitude Ensemble, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA, November 1, 2011.
11. After the Comet Hyakutake, 2007 (commission: Social Band, Burlington, Vermont) Poem by April Naoko Heck for SATB chorus. Social Band, Amity Baker, conductor. Premiere: Richmond, VT, 11/3/07.Subsequent performances in Newport, Burlington and Northfield, Vermont 12. Rush Patrick’s Vision, 2007 (commission: Vermont Symphony Orchestra) For orchestra (0202, 3000, 66442). Vermont Symphony Orchestra Made in Vermont Tour, nine performances throughout Vermont, 9/27/07 – 10/7/07.
13. Legends, 2007 (commission: Green Mountain Suzuki Institute, Rochester, Vermont) Level 2 Suzuki piano trio. Premiere: Green Mountain Suzuki Institute, Rochester, VT, July 12, 2007. 14. Song of Nature, 2005 (commission: Hungarian Chamber Symphony Orchestra) A Meditation on Words by Ralph Waldo Emerson for Soprano and String Orchestra. Premiere: 11/18/05, Budapest, Hungary, Hungarian Chamber Symphony Orchestra. Alberto Santana, Conductor. 15. Supernatural Songs, Twelve poems by William Butler Yeats for tenor, two sopranos, mezzo-soprano and thirteen instruments. Premiered July 9, 2005, Warebrook, with Jon Garrison, tenor, and Susan Davenny Wyner, conductor. “Ribh at the Tomb of Baile and Aillinn” choreographed by the North Country Union High School Dance Company, Cheri Skurdall, instructor. 2000. 16. The Quangle Wangle’s Hat, 2004 (commission: Social Band, Burlington, Vermont) Setting of Edward Lear’s poem for SATB Chorus for Social Band (Burlington, VT). Premiere: April, 2005 17. The Great “O” Antiphons, 2004 (commission: St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Burlington, Vermont) Advent antiphons for SATB Chorus, premiered December 12, 2004, Commission from The Episcopal Cathedral of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont.
18. Two Scenes from Coriander and a Penny’s Worth of Lonesome, 2004. Words by Ronald Falzone. Premiered (concert version) July 10, 2004, Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival, Irasburg, Vermont 19. Center of Intent, 2003 (commission: Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble) violin, clarinet, ‘cello and piano. Premiered by the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble, Montpelier and Burlington, Vermont, April 2003; March 31 and April 1, 2006, Colchester and Montpelier, Vermont 20. Donal Og, 2001 (commission: Village Harmony, Northfield, Vermont) SAB Chorus, premiered by Village Harmony Adult Camp, August 2001
21. Three Irish Hymns, 2000 (commission: Village Harmony) – SAB Chorus. “St. Patrick” performed at Choral Evensong, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC, June 2004; Consecration of Bishop Thomas Ely, Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont April 28, 2001; Warebrook Festival, 2000; “Slane” and “St. Columba,” Village Harmony, 2000
22. Rhapsody, 1998 (commission: Dinosaur Annex New Music Ensemble, Boston, MA) – clarinet, viola, percussion. Dinosaur Annex New Music Ensemble, Boston, MA, March 1998 Composers Conference at Wellesley College, July 29, 2000
23. Ring of Hills, 1997 (commission: Matthew Doherty, flute; Jocelyn Chang, harp), based on the poem by James Hayford. Premiered by Jocelyn Chang and Matthew Doherty, Jamaica Plain, MA, 1997
6. Compositions (premiere and selected performances, continued)
24. Reunion, 1997 – Three songs for soprano and piano. Text: Ruth Whitman. Premiere: The Castle, Haverhill, MA, 1997.
25. Ave Maria, 1996 (commission: Master Singers, Lexington, Massachusetts) SATB chorus. Premiered by the Master Singers, November 1996. Revised version 12/14, 2002.
26. Biblical Sonnets, 1995 – 1996 Five songs for baritone and fourteen instruments. Text: Greg Djanikian. New Music at Brandeis, Neal Hampton, Conductor; Eric Chalfant, Baritone. Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, February 1996
27. Trio, 1994 Clarinet, ‘cello, piano. Second Instrumental Unit / The Composers Guild of New Jersey, January 11, 2006, Symphony Space, NYC. Auros Group for New Music, Cambridge, MA, May 1997; Warebrook, 1994
28. Lorelei, 1993 Soprano, piccolo/flute, oboe, bassoon and percussion. Text: Sylvia Plath. Julie Hanson, soprano, Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival, July 1993. Crosscurrents, First & Second Church, Boston, MA, October 1993
29. Nightsongs & Laments, 1992 Seven songs for soprano and cello. Text: Ronald Perry. Julie Hanson, Soprano, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 1992. Crosscurrents, Boston College, Boston, MA, 1992 30. The Turning, 1990 (commission: Northwestern University Wind Ensemble, Christopher Morris, Conductor) Winds, brass and percussion (11 instruments). Pick Staiger Concert Hall, Christopher Morris, Conductor, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, spring 1990
31. Three Incarnations – poems by William Butler Yeats for mezzo-soprano and string quartet, 1990- 1991. The Mother of God, 1990 Song for soprano and string quartet. Text: W.B. Yeats. Julie Hanson, soprano and the Lydian String Quartet, Brandeis University, 1992 33. The Second Coming, 1989-1990 Song setting for mezzo-soprano and string quartet. Text: W.B. Yeats. Solo Composition Recital, Edward Pickman Concert Hall, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA, 1990. Mary Delli Colli, mezzo soprano and the Lydian String Quartet, Brandeis University, 1990; Leda and the Swan, 1991 Song for soprano and string quartet. Text: WB Yeats. Performed by Julie Hanson and the Lydian String Quartet, Brandeis University, 1991.
34. Vigil, 1989 For two pianos. Premiere, Solo Composition Recital, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA, 1990
35. Her Kind, 1988 Four-part women’s chorus, mezzo-soprano solo and oboe. Text: Anne Sexton. Adam Grossman, Conductor, Solo Composition Recital, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA, 1990 36. There Will Be Rest, 1987 Song cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano; four songs on texts by Sara Teasdale, W. B. Yeats and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Premiere: Longy School of Music, 1990. 37. Solfegietto, 1986, solo piano League-ISCM Piano Book Project Concert, New England Conservatory, Boston, MA, 1994.
7. Guest Lectures / Speaking Engagements:
Composer Colloquium, University of California, Davis, March 13, 2009.
Invited Talk, “Pitch Organization and Aspects of Form in Ursula Mamlok’s Sextet,” at “The Music of Ursula Mamlok: a mini-festival presented by the Manhattan School of Music,” 7/2-3, ’06. Invited Talk, Plattsburgh State University, “Creativity and the Creative Process (MUS 310), 10/19/2005 “Artistic Collaboration in the Email Age,” Pre-Concert discussion with librettist / screenwriter Ronald Falzone, Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival, July 10, 2004
Invited Talk, Bennington College Music Department, June 2004
Outreach Program (MacDowell Colony), Contoocook Valley High School, Peterborough, NH, March 14, 2001. Albany Community School, Composer-in-Residence, March 19 – 22, 2001 Presentations on own music, MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH, February & March 2001 and January 1988
Presentation on own music, Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY, December 2000
Guest Composer, Lecture on own music, Boston University, October 1999
Lecture: “Yeats and A Vision: Approaching the Millennium” – Warebrook, July 1999
7. Guest Lectures / Speaking Engagements (continued)
Invited Talk, “Seymour Shifin’s String Quartet No. 4,” New York University, March 1999 Guest Speaker, Lecture on Setting Text, Winsor School, Boston, MA, January 1999 Community Forum Radio Broadcasts, 92 FM, Newport, Vermont, 1999 & 2000
Live Radio Broadcasts, Vermont Public Radio (Burlington, VT), 1998 & 2000; Broadcasts/Interviews, 1998: Radio Canada; WDEV (Waterbury, VT); CJMQ, Bishops University, Lenoxville, Quebec. Print Media Interviews in Musicworks (Toronto), Vox Arts News (Shelburne, VT) Guest Speaker, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Lenox, MA, August 1998
8. Committees & Other Professional Activities:
Equity in Education Workgroup Chair, OCSU, 2018 – organized and led equity project for the OCSU School district.
Composer-in-Residence, Green Mountain Suzuki Institute, Manchester, Vermont, July 2007 Composer Mentor, Music-Comp online mentoring program, September 2006 to 2008 Development Committee Member, Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble, 2000 to 2001 Participant, Village Harmony Singing Workshops, Stannard, VT, August 2000, 2001 and Feb. 2008 Member, Board of Directors, Vermont Family Theater, Irasburg, Vermont 1998 to 2001 Peer Review Board for Vermont Artists Roster, Vermont Arts Council, October 1999 Panelist, Opportunity Grant Review, Vermont Arts Council, March 1998
Johnson State College, VT, Early College for the Arts – Summer 1987. Music Studies, 1989-90.
9. Recent & Upcoming Performances:
Ruth, Part 3: A Cantata. April, 2016, Master Singers, Lexington, MA, 2016.
Five Sandburg Songs for tenor, viola, clarinet and piano. Text: Carl Sandburg. Warebrook, 2012 Early Summer Morning & Summer Evening – SATB Chorus, Social Band, Burlington, VT, November 2011; Newton High School Honor Choir, Adam Grossman Conductor, Newton, Ma, 2016. At That Hour – six poems by James Joyce for tenor and six instruments, Longitude Ensemble, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA, November 1, 2011.
10. Reviews: New Music Connoisseur, December 2005, Supernatural Songs; The Chronicle, July 2004, 2005, 2008 – 2011; 21st Century Music, Fall 2000 – Incarnations, Irish Hymn; New Music Connoisseur, January 2000 – Supernatural Songs; Boston Globe, Rhapsody, 1998; Solo Composition Recital, 1990; Shelburne News, Shelburne, VT – Irish Hymn, Incarnations (2000), Supernatural Songs (1999), Reunion (1997)
11. Discography:
“The Quangle Wangle’s Hat,” Social Band: Vermont Composers Project, © 2005 www.socialband.org
12. Theory Papers
“Creating Phrase Expectancy in Seymour Shifrin’s Chronicles.” Joint paper with Dr. William Pfaff, Plattsburgh State University (in progress)
“Pitch Organization and Aspects of Form in Ursula Mamlok’s Sextet”– 2006
“Formal Process in Seymour Shifrin’s String Quartet No. 4” – Dissertation, 2006
13. Current & Upcoming Projects
New work for clarinet, violin, horn, cello and piano
Coriander and a Penny’s Worth of Lonesome (orchestrated version). Opera in two acts. Two Additional Sandburg Songs: Shovel Man and Mag
Ruth – a cantata for SATB chorus, clarinet and piano, Parts 1 & 2.