Douglas Pew – Composer/Arranger

HolySheetMusic is pleased to have composer, Douglas Pew, join the family of composers and arrangers.

We are excited to release two Christmas pieces by Douglas Pew:  “Bethlehem” for SATB and Oboe (or Flute) and “Wondery”, an SATB Christmas Hymn.

Here’s more about Doug:

American composer Douglas Pew (b. 1980) is noted for his ability to strike at the root of the emotional world through his music “with a showman’s touch and a poet’s soul” (Jake Heggie). His music has been heralded as “stunning…magical” (Washington Times) and “sensual, other-worldly, expressive and showcasing a rich harmonic pallet, sure to connect with audiences, while saying something fresh, profound and meaningful” (Scott Holden, pianist).

Douglas and librettist Dara Weiberg will have their newly commissioned one-act opera, “Penny”, premiered at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The work was commissioned by Washington National Opera and will be performed by the WNO’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists as a part of the American Opera Initiative. Joining the production team is Manitoba Chamber Orchestra Music Director, Anne Manson, and Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington D.C. Associate Director, Alan Paul. In preparation for the premiere, “Penny” will be workshopped in the summer of 2014 at the Glimmerglass Opera Festival. 

Pew and Weinberg’s first opera, “A Game of Hearts” was similarly commissioned by Washington National Opera. After it’s premiere at the Kennedy Center in 2012 and subsequent performance by the NANOWorks Opera Company in Cincinnati, OH, it was selected for performance at the 2014 Opera America New Works Forum in New York City.

Additionally, Douglas has received commissions and performances from ensembles such as the Cincinnati Bach Ensemble, Polish Chamber Choir, Atlanta Opera, Miami University Men’s Glee Club, and the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has received multiple awards including a Barlow Endowment commission, 1st prize in the 2009 SCI/ASCAP Student Composers Commission Competition, Musica Sacra International Choral Composition Competition in Poland, ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Award, Susan and For Schumann Fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival, and the Tangeman Sacred Music Center.

Douglas holds Masters and Doctoral degrees from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of music as well as a post-graduate certificate from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland where he studied with internationally acclaimed composer Paweł Łukaszewski under the auspices of a Fulbright Grant. Douglas currently lives in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area where he teaches at Northern Kentucky University, is composer-in-residence at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and is active as a local conductor and vocalist. His music is published by Boosey & Hawkes, Jackman Music Corporation, Blue Shore Music and HolySheetMusic.com.

This is a link to Doug’s music.

Brandon Oberhamer – Composer/Arranger/Performer

This is a performer/composer/arranger to be followed and watched.  Brandon’s music is so beautiful, expressive and superbly performed.   HolySheetMusic is honored to be selling his album “Christmas Peace.”

Growing up in a musical family and with a father who was a band teacher, Brandon began playing saxophone at the age of eight and within months was playing in his dad’s senior concert band. Saxophone soon became a major part of who he is. By grade five he started playing clarinet as well and continued his musical development becoming a soloist in many concerts. By grade nine he began learning flute adding to his doubling ability. While in high school Brandon performed at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Alberta Summer Games and was selected to play with the Alberta Honor Band at the Alberta Band Association Convention.

Following high school graduation, Brandon attended the University of Calgary to study saxophone with Dr. Jeremy Brown. While attending he performed in the University Wind Ensemble, Red Band Jazz Band and the “Super Sax” Group “Saxophonee”.

Brandon also became involved with the Calgary music scene performing with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Wednesday Night Big Band and the Prime Time Big Bands. During these years he began doing numerous saxophone, flute and clarinet clinics for junior and senior high schools, and taught private lessons at the Bearspaw School of Fine Arts and in his own studio.

After receiving his Bachelor of Music degree, Brandon became a sought after private teacher, clinician, and performer in Southern Alberta. During the 1990’s Brandon did several contracts with Royal Caribbean Cruise lines and Norwegian Cruise lines performing with their show bands and jazz combos. Over the past 25 years, he has also performed with several Local Bands including “The Wednesday Night Big Band”, The Prime Time Big Band”,“Hot Cargo”, “20/20”, “Tequila Rain”, “TR3”, “The Calgary Jazz Orchestra”, and “Urban Divide”. Brandon is also currently the Musical Director of the Fox Big Band.

From 2001-2004 Brandon was the saxophone instructor at Red Deer College as well as Red Deer’s “Adventures in Music Summer Camp. Brandon also taught saxophone at Mount Royal University’s Summer Saxophone Camp and the Head Start Summer Band Camp.

For the past seven years Brandon has been the Jazz Director at St. Francis High School, and for the past two years at Notre Dame High School, in Calgary Alberta. He also has been the Director of the Calgary Summer Jazz Camp for the past five years.

Brandon Oberhamer has performed in virtually every type of setting and has now released his second album entitled “Christmas Peace” with Pianist Marvin Goldstein.

Link:  Christmas Peace

Ross Boothe – Composer/Arranger/Songwriter

We are pleased to announce and welcome Ross Boothe, Composer/Arranger/Songwriter to the family of composers at HolySheetMusic.

Here’s more about Ross:

R. Ross Boothe has been active in the music industry as a composer, arranger, producer, music director, and manager for more than a decade.  His works have been heard on every continent, translated into 23 languages, and performed by world-renowned artists including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  His writing and production credits include work for corporate entities like doTerra and Coldwell Banker International as well as recording artists including Jarrett Burns from Fox’s The X Factor, JAYMZ Tuaileva from Fox’s “So You Think you can Dance,” and John Preator from Fox’s “American Idol.” Ross lives in South Jordan, UT with his wife (and writing partner) Michelle, and their three children.

Please check out three gorgeous vocal solo arrangements by Ross and Michelle Boothe:

Three Vocal Solos

Music Legend, Tyler Castleton – Composer/Arranger/Songwriter/Producer

It is a pleasure and an honor to welcome Tyler Castleton to HolySheetMusic.  I have known and worked with Tyler for many years.  His music has inspired so many people, especially the youth of the LDS Church.  Here’s more about Tyler:

Growing up in a family of seven boys in the small town of Preston, ID, Tyler began his musical training at the age of 7. After graduating from Preston High School in 1988, Tyler served an LDS mission in St. Louis, Missouri. A product of Brigham Young University’s Music Media program, Tyler studied songwriting, film scoring and music business, and was named the Outstanding Media Music student in 1994. Tyler spent most of his college years working as the Production & Stage Manager for BYU’s world renowned Young Ambassadors. His numerous international tours with the group took him to Russia and the Baltic States, Finland, Eastern Europe, Spain, North Africa including Morocco and Tunisia, China, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia.

As a music producer, and arranger, Tyler Castleton’s credits include award-winning albums for LDS artists Michael McLean, Jericho Road, Hilary Weeks, Kenneth Cope, Jenny Phillips, Cherie Call, Jenny Oaks Baker, Providence, and George Dyer, as well as many of the recent “Especially for Youth” music albums for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the best-selling women’s albums, “Women of Destiny.”  Tyler is also the co-creator and producer of the Nashville-based boy band, Beyond 5.  Tyler’s songs can be heard on over a hundred LDS and Christian recordings by artists including Grammy Award-winner Gladys Knight, Marie Osmond, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Julie de Azevedo, Eclipse, The Jets, and country music superstar Martina McBride.

A link to Tyler’s music

Peggy Pearson, Janice Kapp Perry, Douglas Perry, Marvin Goldstein, Vanessa Joy (left to right)

Education Week – 2014