Inspired by his years of experience as a pianist in the choral, operatic, pop, and jazz genres, Michael’s solo piano arrangements of standard hymns are anything but standard. From beautiful simplicity to majestic complexity, each piece tells a unique story. Perfect for missionaries, youth, and the young at heart, Hymnprovisations provides the perfect soundtrack for a Sunday morning, evening drive, or anytime relaxation and reflection are needed. 

Pianist and composer Michael Leavitt began studying piano at age eight with Barbara Lee. Quickly surpassing expectations, he began accompanying choirs at school and church. At twelve, he continued his studies with Roger Bushell, winning his first piano competition one year later. Michael continued to compete throughout high school, winning many local, state, and regional competitions.

Michael attended the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Visual, and Performing Arts, majoring in choral performance. With the LVA Chamber Choir he had the opportunity to perform for the White House Christmas Opening with First Lady Hillary Clinton. After graduation, Michael worked as a pianist for many musical theater productions, and as an audio engineer for Impulse Studios and the Huntridge Theater, where he worked with many popular bands, including Collective Soul, Green Day, and 3 Doors Down.

Michael G. Leavitt – Pianist/Arranger/Composer

Michael received his undergraduate degree in Music Media from Brigham Young University. From 2003-05, he was the pianist and conductor for the Young Ambassadors, with whom he had the opportunity to tour throughout the United States, China, Korea, Brazil, and Argentina. In addition, Michael was the pianist and conductor for many BYU musical theater productions, including Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Oklahoma, and Aida. In 2008 Michael had the opportunity to work with Erik Orton, directing and producing the music for the BYU filming of Berlin, an original musical. In 2009 Michael composed and produced the music for the BYU film Onward Alone, and was the co-producer and conductor for the LDS production A Brand New Year, a live broadcast performed in front of an audience of over 20,000 people.

One of Michael’s favorite professional experiences was with Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, in Hale Center Theater Orem’s production of 110 In the Shade. Together with Dave Zabriskie, Michael created a virtual orchestral system called ROCS, which he used to conduct a computerized orchestra for the live performances with Audra. Since the creation of the system, Michael and Dave have continued development and promotion of ROCS, now known as the aTempo System. In April 2012, Michael had the great opportunity to work closely with internationally acclaimed conductor Don Chan to create virtual orchestral demo recordings of West Side Story for the Leonard Bernstein Foundation.

Robert Strobel – Composer/Arranger

We welcome young composer Robert Strobel to HolySheetMusic!

Robert Strobel is a composer of a variety of mediums, including chamber works, art songs, choral works, and three pieces for orchestra. He currently is a doctoral composition student at Florida State University. He pursued a Master of Music in Composition at the University of Missouri until 2014. Before that, he received his Bachelor’s degree in Composition and Oboe Performance, Summa Cum Laude, and a Master of Music in Performance at the University of Northern Colorado. Commissions include arranging a fight song for Columbia College, a work for David Halen and string members of the St. Louis Symphony, performed at the Sheldon, a Sinquefield Scholarship Commission for String Quartet, and a Sinquefield commission for oboist Dan Willett, which was performed with the Esterhazy string quartet. He was also asked to write a work based on Bill Smith’s artwork “Graphyne,” performed at the World Chess Hall of Fame, which was made into a DVD.  Some other honors include winning first prize in the FSU Force Majeure Woodwind Quintet Competition, and a winner in the 2014 Missouri Orchestra Composer’s Project. Often, he has found fulfillment writing music about his faith.

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

This setting of the lyrics, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” reflects the imagery of the simple, tranquil safety of abiding with the Savior. The setting begins blissfully in the key of F major; a syncopated accompaniment with a melody high in the right hand of the piano. The women are alone in the first part of the first verse. After the first verse, the accompaniment calms down, and the more subdued character of the men’s voices enter in Eb in the beginning of the second verse. The last verse ends a cappella with a short ending by the piano.

Nearer, My God, to Thee

This arrangement of “Nearer, My God, to Thee” begins with an original setting of the hymn’s words, a cappella, indicating the message of courage and trust in the Savior contained in the first verse. The piano comes in on the last words of this section, and introduces the ideas associated with the next verse. Afterwards, the well-known melody to the hymn is used in the choir in unison, set in a way that reflects the struggles described in the second verse. The third and final verse returns to the setting of the words from the beginning of the work. The final verse discusses the aid of heaven, and the work ends hopefully.

Joseph Sowa – Composer/Arranger

Please welcome Joseph to HolySheetMusic.

Joseph Sowa (b. 1984) is a composer of orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal music. His arrangement of “For the Beauty of the Earth” was recorded by soprano Charity Tillemann-Dick on her album American Grace, which debuted no. 1 on the Billboard® “Traditional Classical” chart. His works have been performed by the BYU Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras, the Lydian String Quartet, the Quartetto Indaco, the Awea Duo, the Tower Duo, Douglas Bush, Daniel Stepner, and numerous LDS choirs, among others. He has been commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition, the Laycock Endowment for Creative Collaboration in the Arts, Douglas Bush, Neil Thornock, and Arianna Tieghi.

“For the Beauty of the Earth“: Suitable for both church and concert settings, Joseph Sowa’s arrangement of “For the Beauty of the Earth” embroiders the classic hymn of gratitude with a lyrical cello solo and a lush piano accompaniment. It was recorded by soprano Charity Tillemann-Dick on her album Billboard® “Traditional Classical” chart-topping American Grace. 

Here is a link to “For the Beauty of the Earth.”

Dr. Sue Neimoyer – Composer/Arranger/Musicologist

We welcome Dr. Sue Neimoyer to HolySheetMusic.  Sue’s compositions are exquisite from accessible to challenging.  The first piece we offer at HolySheetMusic, “Wondrous Love” is incredible and for the advanced choir.  We have a list of pieces we’ll be publishing by Sue, arrangements and as well as new compositions.   Here’s more about Sue:

Sue Neimoyer – Biography

Sue Neimoyer’s compositions reflect her very diverse musical background and professional experience.  She hails from Yreka, California, where she began studying piano at age 5.  Her first compositions, written at age 10 for her neighborhood’s garage rock band, were songs in the style of the Beatles and other pop groups of the 1960s.  At age 13, she performed her first solo classical piano recital as well as a piano concerto with her school orchestra.  Her first compositional work to receive acknowledgment was an arrangement written for her high school’s jazz ensemble, which was awarded a “superior” rating at the Reno Jazz Festival.

Dr. Neimoyer earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in composition and theory from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.  She holds a Ph.D. in music history, with an emphasis in American music, from the University of Washington in Seattle.  She served an LDS mission in the California Arcadia Mission. While in Seattle, she was the music director and organist at Trinity United Methodist Church, where she arranged music for and conducted the church’s chancel choir and played bass guitar its contemporary Christian music ensemble.  Her compositions and arrangements have been widely performed in the United States, as well as in Europe and China.  Her “Mountain Anthem,” sung by the International Children’s Choir of Salt Lake with a Utah-based “honor orchestra,” was featured in PBS’s broadcast of the 2002 World’s Largest Concert, representing and celebrating the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

As a performer, Dr. Neimoyer has played solo jazz piano bar engagements, has been a keyboardist and singer in both rock bands and in small jazz groups.  She also sang dramatic soprano roles with the Seattle Experimental Opera in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

She is currently on the faculty at the University of Utah School of Music, where she teaches courses in 20^th-century music, American music, jazz history, and opera literature.  Her articles on Joni Mitchell’s avant-garde jazz music and George Gershwin’s early music and career appear in noted scholarly journals.

Please check out:  “Wondrous Love.”

Rock Oakeson – Composer/Arranger

We welcome Rock Oakeson to HolySheetMusic.com.  Here’s a little introduction to Rock (What a great name, eh?!!)

Rock Oakeson is a pianist, composer, piano teacher, woodwind player, college music professor and school administrator with 43 years of teaching experience.  He has appeared on nationwide PBS-TV as piano soloist with the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus, has performed as soloist and ensemble pianist and woodwind player with the BYU Philharmonic, the BYU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the North Texas Philharmonic.  He received his Bachelor of Music degree in composition from Brigham Young University in 1978, and his Master of Music degree in composition from the University of North Texas in 1983.  Besides composing much music for different vocal and instrumental ensembles, Rock has also written music for ballet and dancers, for television and radio, and has scored music for film and video.  After seeing a need for good educators, he elected to make a life-long career as a devoted teacher and administrator at several colleges and universities in California and Utah.  Besides music and humanities, he also taught classes in business, finance and general education.  Currently Rock teaches piano, composition and theory at his private home studio in Eugene, Oregon, where he is enjoying his retirement.  Rock also continues his life-long mentoring relationship with his past college students who continue to learn and to be inspired by his knowledge, wisdom and life experiences.

Please take a look and listen to Rock’s “An Irish Blessing” for TTBB Voices.