Frank Felice
Biography
Frank Felice (b. 13 October 1961, Great Falls, Mont.) is an eclectic composer who writes with a postmodern mischievousness: each piece speaks in its own language, and they can be by turns comedic/ironic, simple/complex, subtle/startling or humble/reverent. Recent projects of Felice's have taken a turn toward turn towards the sweeter side, exploring a consonant adiatonicism.
His music has been performed extensively in the U.S. as well as garnering performances in Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation, Austria, the Phillipines, the Czech Republic and Hungary. His commissions have included funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Omaha Symphony, the Indiana Arts Commission, The Indiana Repertory Theatre, Dance Kaleidoscope, Music Teachers National Association, the Wyoming State Arts Board, the Indianapolis Youth Symphony, Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma as well as many private commissions. In 2003 the Butler University Department of Dance commissioned an evening-length ballet from him, "The Willow Maiden," which was premiered at Clowes Hall in April of that year. A recording of electronic and electro-acoustic music entitled "Sidewalk Music" is available on Capstone Records. Scores and other performance materials can be obtained from Mad Italian Bros. Ink Publishing.
Frank began his musical studies in Hamilton, Montana, singing, playing piano, guitar and double bass. His interest in composition began through participation with a number of rock bands, one of which, Graffiti, toured the western United States and the Far East in 1986-1987. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, the University of Colorado, and Butler University, studying with Michael Schelle, Daniel Breedon, Luiz Gonzalez, and James Day. Most recently he has studied with Dominick Argento, Alex Lubet, Lloyd Ultan, and Judith Lang Zaimont at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where he completed his Ph.D. in 1998. Frank currently teaches as an associate professor of composition, theory and electronic music in the School of Music, Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He is member of the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the U.S., the American Composers Forum, the American Music Center, The Society of Composers Inc., and the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers. Residencies include those with the Wyoming Arts Council, and the Banff Centre for the Arts and a number of mini-residencies in universities and high schools throughout the west and mid-west. In addition to musical interests, he pursues his creative muse through painting, poetry, cooking, home brewing, paleontology, theology, philosophy, and basketball. He is very fortunate to be married to mezzo-soprano Mitzi Westra.
Works for Winds
- Antics (Pagliacciata)
- Ecstatic Cling (2018)
- Fanfare and Dances from the Court of the Woodland King (2004)
- Passage (1997)
- Power Plays (2013)
- Sleight of Band (2000)
- Sunrise at Angler's Roost (2021)
- Three Fanfares (Circle City Fanfare, Campane in Aria, Fanfare for a Common Band) (2007)
Resources
- Frank Felice website - Accessed 23 September 2018
- Frank Felice, Wikipedia Accessed 23 September 2018