Timothy Hoekman named MTNA-Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year - Association News - Music Teachers National Association

Timothy Hoekman has been selected as the 2002 MTNA-Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year for his composition To Make a Prairie, commissioned by the South Dakota Music Teachers Association.

A professor of vocal coaching and accompanying at The Florida State University, Hoekman has written extensively for singers. His compositions include four sets of songs published by Recital Publications: Seven Housman Songs, American Lyrics, The Nash Menagerie and Bless This New Marriage: Three Wedding Songs. Other recent commissions have included the one-act opera Princess Gray Goose, premiered in 1996; Margarets: Two Duets for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano and Piano (recorded on the CD to Sun, To Feast, and To Converse, Albany Records); Then Swims Up the Great Round Moon (a song cycle for vocal quartet and piano with texts by Walter de la Mare); Harlem Night Songs for SATB chorus and piano with texts by Langston Hughes; and a fanfare for Glimmerglass Opera Company's 2002 season.

Hoekman has composed a new song cycle for baritone and harpsichord called Suite Italiana, to be premiered by baritone Jerrold Pope in June. Other works include The Nativity for soprano and orchestra, sacred choral anthems, hymn preludes for organ and works for trumpet and organ.

Hoekman has presented master classes for singers and accompanists for the Florida State Music Teachers Association and at many colleges and universities nationwide. He holds a B.A. degree from Calvin College, an M.M. degree from Peabody Conservatory and a doctoral degree in piano performance from the University of Michigan. He has performed as a collaborative pianist throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Australia, Italy, France, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Hoekman serves as a pianist, harpsichordist and coach for the Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, New York. In addition, he was the artistic director of the South Georgia Opera Company from its inception in 1986 until spring 1993. He has written for The Journal of Singing, the publication of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and Voices, Opera America's Bulletin for Singers.

The MTNA Composer Commissioning Program is dedicated to encouraging the creation of new works by American composers. The Distinguished Composer of the Year Award is sponsored by Sylvia Shepherd of California. Please see the Composer Commissioning column on page 86 for more information about Hoekman and his composition.

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