School Quality

Jon Jeffrey Grier *** Pimlico Road

Greenville, SC 29607

composer home 864-***-****; school 864-***-****

**********@*******.***

www.newertunes.com

Education

D.M.A., Composition, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, August, 1987,

Magna Cum Laude. Composition and electronic music study with Dr. Gordon R. Goodwin and Dr.

Samuel O. Douglas; theory study with Dr. Jerry Curry. Thesis composition: Drones, for orchestra.

M.M., Theory, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, August 1982, Magna Cum

Laude. Advanced studies with Dr. Jerry Curry and Dr. Sam Douglas. Thesis: four-semester syllabus,

with instructional and testing materials, for the USC sight-singing/ear-training core sequence. These

materials were used for approximately five years thereafter.

M.M., Composition, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, December 1977,

Summa Cum Laude. Composition and theory study with Ramon Zupko. Thesis composition: Cumulo

Nimbus, for wind ensemble.

B.A., Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI, June 1975, Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Major

in music, with departmental honors. Concentrations in composition and education, with teaching

minor in psychology and Michigan secondary ceritification. Composition and theory study with Dr.

Lawrence Rackley Smith.

Experience and Current Activity

8/88-Present: Instructor of Advanced Placement Music Theory, Advanced Topics in Music

Theory, and Honors Music History, and Composer in Residence at the Greenville Fine Arts Center, a

magnet school for the gifted and talented in the arts in the School District of Greenville County.

Elected Teacher of the Year by colleagues, '94-'95 and 04- 05; also artist-in-residence 1/86-6/86,

sabbatical replacement 1/85-6/85. Duties include classroom instruction in traditional analytical theory,

vocabulary, sight-singing and ear-training, historical style and its evolution, form analysis, and

introductory acoustics; student passing rate of over 90% on the AP Music Theory Test since 1988.

Many pieces composed for Fine Arts Center student and faculty performers; authored majority of

instructional materials used in FAC theory courses. Mentor/sponsor for Fine Arts Center Composers

Society and Foothills GreeenArtists.

9/82-12/82 and 3/83-6/83: Professor of Music, Kalamazoo College (sabbatical replacement).

Duties included classroom and private instruction in theory, history, appreciation, composition, and

arranging; director of, and arranger for, Jazz Lab Band and Wind Ensemble.

1/79-5/82: Instructor of sight-singing/ear-training and intro theory, University of South

Carolina (assistantship). 7/81: taught seminar in musique concr te techniques for the elementary

school music teacher.

1/85-Present: Keyboardist and arranger with Greenville-based groups Oracle, a jazz-fusion

ensemble, and Edgewise, a jazz piano trio. Also active as free-lancer.

Instrumental background in piano, electronic keyboards, and trumpet. Piano teacher in home

and commercial studios, 9/75-5/82. Member of National Association of Composers USA, Southeastern

Composers' League, American Music Center, and ASCAP.

Jon Jeffrey Grier, p.2

Publications

2011 Contra-Dances, for Two Cellos (2022). ISG Publications.

2010 Brieflets, for String Quartet (Quartet #1, 1989), A Moment s Notice, for 5-part strings (1990), and

Too Many Notes, for three cellos (2006). Frank Warren Music Service.

Three Inventions for Band (1987). Imagine Music Publishing.

2006 Tango de Hippo, for middle school band (2000); comic, w/sound effects. Imagine Music.

A Child I Was, SATB madrigal (1989, rev.1999), w/text by the composer. Imagine Music.

2005 Habanera Chromatique, for oboe and marimba (1994); w/vrsns. for clarinet, alto flute. Manduca.

Cripple Creek Counterpoint, for flute quartet (1992). Little Piper Publications.

2003 Rondo Bacchanale, for strings, timpani, and violin solo (premiered by Greenville County Youth

Orchestra, 1992. Latham Music.

A Skeleton in the Closet, for string quartet (1999). Cartoonish Halloween music, with copious

special effects and theatrics; for younger players. Latham Music.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game, arranged for four violas or violins(1998). Comedic and very

theatrical; 4th viola, after an argument, gets thrown out of the concert. Latham Music.

2001 CD recording of all three string quartets by the Ceruti Quartet of the University of Memphis.

Includes premiere of Quartet #3, the "Automotive." Grant support from the Metropolitan Arts

Commission, the Greenville Fine Arts Center, and the University of Memphis.

2000 Cosmic Encounters, for piano (1984). "Twelve Interplanetary Etudes on the Intervals for

Intermediate Terrestrial Piano." The pieces describe sequential stages of a spaceflight from

Earth to Saturn; as the intervals get larger with each piece, the distance from Earth increases.

Manduca Music Publications.

An Afternoon in a Striped Balloon (1998), for 'cello and piano. Both parts designed to be

playable by 3rd-year players; alternate solo parts for viola and violin. Latham Music.

Stop the Time, I Want to Get Off! (1999), for guitar ensemble (5 guitars, bass, drums). Fast bop,

frequent stop time. University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press.

1999 Swing Shift (1998; "A" sections in funk 2, "B" sections in swing 4, with swing 8ths constant) and

Get 'em While They're Hot (1997), both for guitar ensemble. UNC Jazz Press.

1998 Holiday Music, for string quartet (1993). 11 seasonal carols & songs arranged in various jazz

styles. Latham Music Enterprises.

Significant Others, for viola and bass (1994; also arrnged for violin and 'cello). 4 movements

describing a courtship ("Come Here Often?," "Marche Hormonale," "Potatoes and Potahtoes,"

"Bliss"). Ludwin Music.

1997 Hannah's Waltz for 'cello and piano (1996); Death, Taxes, and Tristan, for piano trio (1992).

Manduca Music Publications.

1996 Cripple Creek Counterpoint, version for woodwind quintet (1992, rev. 1995), M nage Trio,

versions for string trio or 2 violas and 'cello (1994), and

A Stitch in Time, for 5-part strings (1992; etude in jazz rhythms). Frank Warren Music Service.

Three Scats, Etudes in Jazz for piano (1988, with rhythms and titles evoking scat singing); and

The Ant Hill, for 2 pianos, 4 hands (1983; intermediate). Manduca Music Publications.

Jon Jeffrey Grier, p.3

1996 "Letters Home" and "Zeed," from Floot Loops, 5 short pieces in jazz for flute and piano (1979),

published in the American Piper, journal of the Flute Club of America. Little Piper Publications.

1992 Propagatia, for bass trombone and piano (1988; rev. 1989). Trombone Association Publications.

1991 Polka Impetuoso, for concert band, grade 5 (1987). Fast humorous. Kjos Music Co.

Jazz Suite for Two, 3 intermediate pieces for piano 4 hands (1990). Warner Bros., out of print.

1990 Jazzmatazz, 8 teaching pieces in various jazz (1988). Warner Bros., out of print.

1988 Allegretto Animoso, for 5-part strings, grade 3 (1985; rev. 1987). Warner Bros., out of print.

1986 Five, for brass quintet (1981). Five short interrelated movements dealing with two principal

themes; middle movement a palindrome. The Brass Press.

1986 Nursery Riffs, 6 familiar children's songs and nursery rhymes arranged in various jazz styles for

advanced intermediate piano (1984). Kjos Music Co.

1984 Jazzbag, 22 teaching pieces in various jazz styles for intermediate piano (1980). Includes

introduction to jazz phrasing and syncopations. Kjos Music Co.

1983 Santamajazz, 10 familiar carols arranged in jazz for piano (1981). Adv. Intermediate. Kjos.

Commissions, Grants, Awards, Major Performances

2012 Voices from the Village (2006/2011, version for female voice and piano trio), to be premiered by

the Kandinsky Trio with soprano Ariana Wyatt, April 2012.

2011 Four Are in the River, (2011, vrsn for soprano and quartet), premiered by alumni of the Fine Arts

Center with soprano Anna Diemer at the Annual Meeting of the Emrys Foundation, May 2011.

Voices from the Village, for female voice and piano, performed on the Americana Festival of the

Boston Metro Opera, May 2011.

March 2011 concert with Ceruti String Quartet: Symbionts, for Violin and Viola, premiered by

violinist Tim Shiu and violist Lenny Schranze; Significant Others (1994, violin/ cello version)

premiered by violinist Soh-Hyun Park Altino and cellist Leonardo Altino; and, Four Are in the

River (2011, version for quartet with viola solo) premiered by the Ceruti quartet. Performance

and compositions supported in part by a school-wide grant from the Braitmayer Foundation.

2010 All for One, for Woodwinds, Marimbas and Strings, premiered by students of the FAC, May

2010. All-percussion version to be premiered by students of UNC Charlotte, Spring 2012.

Diverse Variations on A-C-P, for oboe, violin, viola, cello and piano, commissioned & premiered

as the winning composition of 1st Annual Rapido! contest (2009) sponsored by the Atlanta

Chamber Players, April 2010.

Overcoming, A Rhapsody on We Shall Overcome, for Piano Quintet, performed in the In

Rememberance of the Dream concert by the Ritz Chamber Players, Jacksonville, January 2010.

Locriana, for Piano Quartet (2010) Four Movements on the Locrian Mode premiered by the

Kandinsky Trio with guest violist Olivia Hajioff, January 2010.

2009 Overcoming, Rhapsody on We Shall Overcome for Piano Quintet, premiered by FAC students.

Morning, Goodbye, jazz ballad for vocal, rhythm section and strings, premiered by students of

the Fine Arts Center (major revision of 1993 arrangement).

Jon Jeffrey Grier, p.4

2008 Voices from the Village, on personal ads from the Village Voice and the New York Times (2006),

premiered by soprano Mimi Wyche at 25th Anniversary Gala of the Emrys Foundation.

A Fifth Season, for orchestra, premiered by the Greenville County Youth Orchestra as part of

dedication of the new FAC building; based in part on the John Acorn sculpture The Seasons.

Triple Dances, for clarinet, alto sax, and bassoon, performed with choreography at the

Greeenville County Museum for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Emrys Foundation.

2007 Passacaglia and Gigue, for string sextet, premiered by students of the Greenville Fine Arts Center

who won the 2007 Converse College Chamber Music Competition performing it.

Chamber orchestra version of The Number of Things premiered by the GCYO.

2006 Too Many Notes, for three cellos, premiered by student cellists of the Greenville Fine Arts

Center; these players won the 2006 Converse College Chamber Music Competition with it.

2005 A Moment s Notice, for 5-part strings (1990), performed by students of the South Carolina

Governor s School for the Arts during tour of Italy.

After Long Ventures, for clarinet, piano, and chamber orchestra, on a poem of Walt Whitman,

premiered by Greenville County Youth Orchestra at FAC.

String Quartet #2, the Nautical, performed by the Lyra Quartet, Quartet in Residence at the

Callanwolde Arts Center, Atlanta.

Composures, for mixed winds and/or brass, performed at New Music Festival IV, University of

Nebraska-Kearney.

2004 $5000 Surdna Grant Recipient for electronic music study with Dr. Daniel Koppelman, Furman

University. Edigitudes, for string quartet and synthesized sounds on CD, performed by FAC

students, May 2005.

Three Equivocal Songs, for Violin and Chamber Orchestra, premiered 22 April by the Greenville

County Youth Orchestra, Chloe Robinson, soloist.

String Quartet #2, the Nautical, performed by the Conversant Quartet in November at the

Annual Convention of the College Music Society in San Francisco.

String Quartet #3, the Automotive, performed 8 March by Ceruti Quartet as part of concert

sponsored by the National Association of Composers, USA, in New York City.

Nostalgias, for Piano Trio, performed by new music group Sounds New in San Francisco 22 Feb.

2003 FAC Teacher of the Year for 2004-2005; top ten finalist, School District of Greenville County.

Habanera Chromatique, for oboe and marimba, performed as part of Summer festival 2003 at the

Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, England.

Nostalgias, for Piano Trio, performed in New York City at inaugural concert of the Aurelia Trio.

Takes Two, for Flute Solo and Chamber Orchestra, supported by grant from the Metropolitan

Arts Commission and premiered by the Foothills Philharmonic, Rhea Jacobus, flute.

Contra-Dances, for Cello Duet (2001-02), premiered by FAC cellists and performed to

standing ovation-- at 2003 Southeastern Composers League Forum at the University of Georgia.

2002 Nostalgias, for Piano Trio (1991; rev. 1996), performed on season-ending subscription concert by

the Kandinsky Trio, Ensemble-in-Residence at Roanoke College.

Jon Jeffrey Grier, p.5

2002 String Quartet #3, the Automotive" (1998), performed as final work of the 2002 Southeastern

Composers League Forum at Mercer University by the Ceruti Quartet; three curtain calls.

Scherzophrenia, for String Quartet (2002), premiered by FAC Cripple Creek Quartet.

Polka Diabolique, for Viola and Piano (2001), premiered by FAC violist Hannah Shaw.

Habanera Chromatique, for Oboe and Marimba (1994), performed by oboist Thomas Livermore

in Suffolk, England.

2001 Tango de Hippo (2000) for middle school band, premiered in a combined concert by the

Hughes Academy Symphonic Band and the Greenville Concert Band.

Habanera Chromatique, for oboe and marimba (1994, revised 1998; revised version transcribed for

clarinet and marimba, 1998) performed in recital by Kelly Vaneman, oboe, faculty member of

Converse College.

Passsacaglia for Strings (2001) performed by FAC students at the Converse College Annual High

School Chamber Music Competition; awarded 2nd Place.

Incidental music commissioned for Warehouse Theater production of Blood Wedding by

Federico Garcia Lorca; recorded by Strings/Chamber Music students from FAC.

2000 A Child I Was, an SATB madrigal (1989, rev. 1999), performed and awarded 2nd Place in the

21st Annual Choral Composition Contest and Festival, Ithaca College School of Music.

Significant Others, for viola and bass, performed as part of the Southeastern Composers' League

Forum 2000, held at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Individual Artist Grant, from the Metropolitan Arts Council (South Carolina Arts Commission)

to support the manufacture of CD's of the string quartets recorded by Ceruti Quartet.

The Number of Things, for string quartet, alto sax, and marimba, composed to commemorate the

25th Anniversary of the founding of the Greenville Fine Arts Center.

1998 Swing Shift, for guitar ensemble, premiered by students of the Fine Arts Center.

1997 Significant Others, for viola and bass, awarded co-honorable mention (no 1st place award given)

in the International Society of Bassists 1997 Composition Contest.

Felis Imperius, for chamber orchestra, premiered by the Greenville County Youth Orchestra.

Nostalgias, for piano trio (a major revision of Rondoids [1991]), premiered by the Merling Piano

Trio of Western Michigan University in a series of in-home and public concerts 16-19 April.

Composer participated with grant support from the American Composers Forum.

In Pursuit, for orchestra, performed by Greenville Symphony Orchestra, 18-19 January.

Get 'em While They're Hot, for guitar ensemble, premiered by students of the Fine Arts Center.

1996 Quartet #2, the "Nautical" (1991; major revision 1995), performed by the Ceruti String Quartet

of the University of Memphis in the Memphis New Music Festival. 3 descriptive, sometimes

humorous movements ("Pegleg," "Adrift," "Great White").

1995 Brieflets, for String Quartet (Quartet #1), programmed by the Ceruti String Quartet;

performances include the Memphis New Music Festival and the Tennessee MTNA convention.

1994 Individual Artist Grant, Metropolitan Arts Council (South Carolina Arts Commission), for the

composition of In Pursuit, commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the founding of the

Greenville Fine Arts Center, premiered by the Greenville County Youth Orchestra 2 May 95.

Jon Jeffrey Grier, p.6

1993 Alliance for Quality Education grant for Holiday Music, 11 seasonal carols and songs arranged

in various jazz styles for string quartet; recorded by FAC student performers, recordings sold.

1992 Individual Artist Grant, from the Metropolitan Arts Council (South Carolina Arts Commission)

to support the composition of Soliloquy for the Greenville County Youth Orchestra.

Alliance for Quality Education grant to implement world music unit in FAC theory curriculum.

Incidental music for FAC production of Where is the Queen?, realized on the Ensoniq VFX-SD.

1991 Rondoids, for piano trio, commissioned and premiered by the Kandinsky Trio, artists-in-

residence at Roanoke College. (revised 1996 and re-titled Nostalgias.)

Alliance for Quality Education grant to support recording of various FAC student instrumental

ensembles in a professional studio; studio recording unit added to theory curriculum.

1990 Individual Artist Grant to support the composition of Yings and Yangs, for two violas.

Alliance for Quality Education grant in support of student string quartet studio recording.

1989 Co-Variants, for orchestra, commissioned and premiered by the GCYO.

1987 New York premiere of Two by Four, for two pianos, by new music ensemble GAGEEGO.

1986 Advancing Dimensions, for strings, voices, percussion, and piano, commissioned and premiered

by the Greenville Fine Arts Center, composer conducting. Math/geometry theme;

choreography by FAC dance instructor, poetry and stage props contributed by FAC students.

1984 Individual Artist's Grant to support composition of Cosmic Encounters, a collection of 12

sketches, each emphasizing one of the 12 chromatic intervals, for intermediate piano. Includes

interval theory & analysis exercises for each piece; space exploration theme.

Excerpts from Summer Sweet, for stage band, performed at the Memphis State University New

Music Festival XI; Summer Sweet premiered by the Kalamazoo College Jazz Lab Band, June '83.

1983 Two by Four and The Ant Hill, for two pianos, four hands, commissioned by the Michigan Music

Teachers Association, and premiered at the MMTA convention in Detroit.

1982 2nd place in Southeastern Composers' League graduate composition contest with Five, for brass

quintet; Five performed October 1984 at College Music Society national convention by the

Nashville Contemporary Brass Quintet.

1981 ASCAP Young Composer's Grant awarded for Cumulo-Nimbus, for symphonic band; Cumulo-

Nimbus performed at Symposium VI for New Band Music by the Virginia Intercollegiate Band.

1980 Mosaics Music commissioned by South Carolina Educational Radio Network; used for 5 years on

Mosaics, a weekly news/features program.

Jon Jeffrey Grier, p.7

Other Representative Compositions

Attitudes (2009), Three Hormonal Duets for flutes or alto flutes.

Three Polish Folk Songs (2009), arranged for flute and piano.

Canonic Fanfare (2009), for brass.

Eurot nze (2006), dance suite for brass (Prelude, Waltzer, Habanera, Reel, Pavane, Tarantellla).

Waka Songs, on love poems of the Hyakunin Isshu (2005), for soprano and viola.

Present Affections, for violin and piano (2003). Six movements, modeled on a Baroque suite.

Jumpstart, for jazz combo (2001). Mid-tempo funk.

September Blue, for string quartet or orchestra (1999). Mid-tempo bluesy jazz, for younger players.

Cops and Robbers, for trumpet duet (1995). 2 movements ("He Went That-a-way," "Gotcha

Christmas Around the Synthesizer (1990; rev. 2003). 8 popular carols realized on the Ensoniq VFX-SD.

Three Bits, in jazz, for two violas and piano (1989; "Rondino Latino," "Death, Taxes, and Tristan," "[Get

Your] Ducks in a Row"). "Tristan" also transcribed and published for piano trio (1992).

Breaking Ground, for orchestra (1988). Concert overture.

Three Inventions for Band (1987). "Fantasia Agitato," "Elegy," "Ostinato Energico"). Band, grade 5.

Elbo Macaroni #35 (1982). A group improvisation format for stage band. Each player receives a list of

described parts (not notated), and explanations of conductor's signals.

Unisons, for three flutes and piano (1981). All players double on percussion instruments.

Three Romances, for flute and piano (1976). Dark and brooding, with some common melodic elements.

Compositions as member of jazz-fusion ensemble Oracle and jazz quartet Edgewise

Come Fly With Love Again (1995, rev. 2007). Latin, Well, You Needn't (1995). Fast, hard-swinging

with vocal (lyrics by Peggy Lynn Haden). arrangement of Thelonius Monk standard.

The Old Guys Can Still Do It (2003). Dissonant, Just for You (1994). Traditional jazz ballad.

progressive blues.

The Old Guys Can Still Do It (1992). Fusion/latin.

You Break Me Up (2002). Straight-ahead blues.

Sleaze Factor (1990). High-power rock shuffle.

Hidden Love (2002). Slow latin fusion.

Monkey Wrench (or, How To Be a Chromatic Band

in a Pentatonic World, 1989). Latin & straight-

Samba Hemiola (2002). Fast samba.

ahead sections juxtapose pentatonic and

Palmetto Breeze (2002). Bossa with stop time. chromatic materials.

Forte-tude (2002). High-power mid-tempo funk; Calypso de Facto (1987). Calypso and big-band.

outside melody.

Evasive Action (1988). Fast, high-power swing.

Escalation (2002). Straight-ahead w/chromatic

Pass the Brains, Please (1985). 5/4, tongue-in-

root progressions.

cheek horror music with electronic effects.

Mystery Man (1999). Mid-tempo fusion groove.

Marigold (1985). Traditional jazz ballad.

Eleonore Digs Me (1999). Funk arrangement.

Friday Solitary (1984). Straight-ahead up-tempo.

Flight o' Fancy (1996). Fast, light 5/4 & 6/4.

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