Benjamin McMillan
Biography
Benjamin Mcmillan (b. 1984, Cookeville, Tenn.) is an active composer and producer.
Mr. McMillan holds a bachelor's degree in music composition from Tennessee Tech University. Ben studied composition with Dr. Greg Danner and James Barnes. He credits his biggest influences as film music, John Adams, Steve Reich, John Williams, and Jerry Goldsmith.
Mr. McMillan's music has been performed internationally by leading artists including Steven Mead, Sergio Carolino, Timothy Northcut, Gail Robertson, Adam Frey, The United States Army Band, Spanish Brass, Eufonix Quartet, North Texas Euphonium Quartet, and the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble. He has had performances at prestigious music venues and conferences including Carnegie Hall, the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference & Regional Conferences, the Tennessee Music Educators Conference, the US Army Band Tuba/Euphonium Workshop. He has received numerous commissions ranging from high school concert band to student chamber groups and professional solo artists. He has been nominated twice for the Harvey Phillips Award For Excellence In Composition from ITEA. Ben's works have been recorded on numerous albums ranging from doctoral dissertations to professionally produced recordings.
As a former euphoniumist, Ben was principal soloist with the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble on numerous tours and performances, and recorded and produced eight albums with the group. While studying in the Midwest, Ben performed on baritone and tenor horn with the award-winning Fountain City Brass Band during their 1st place win of both the U.S. and Scottish Brass Band Open competition. He has taught and tutored brass methods, private tuba/euphonium lessons, composition, aural techniques, and music theory.
On composing, Mr. McMillan writes:
"My philosophy on composing primarily consists of writing music that I enjoy hearing. My intuition and my ears are the two biggest guides during the writing process. I believe that as artists -- of any medium -- we act as channels for a greater, mysterious universal essence, filtering and distilling it through ourselves, and refining our intuition allows that essence to flow through with less distortion. I find that my style and musical sensibilities are constantly evolving as I mature as a musician and individual. The biggest outside influences on my style remain film scores and post-minimalism."
Works for Winds
- Concerto for Tuba (2019)
- The Old Kingdom (2006)
Resources
- Benjamin McMillan website Accessed 27 January 2019