Gregory Fritze

From Wind Repertory Project
Gregory Fritze

Biography

Gregory Fritze (b. 1954, Allentown, Penn.) is an American composer, educator and tubist.

Taking up the tuba as his principal instrument, Fritze received his bachelor's degree in composition from the Boston Conservatory. At the Boston Conservatory he studied composition with John Adams and tuba with Chester Roberts. He then went on to receive his master's degree in composition from Indiana University, where he studied composition with Thomas Beversdorf, John Eaton and Fred Fox, while studying tuba with Harvey Phillips. Fritze then went on to become principal tubist with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a member of the Cambridge Symphonic Brass Ensemble, and Colonial Tuba Quartet.

In addition to composing over forty compositions for orchestra, band, chamber music and soloists, he has premiered many works for tuba, several of which were written for him, such as the Concerto for Tuba and Band by John Bavicchi and the Concerto for Tuba and Jazz Ensemble by Ken Pullig.

Fritze served as a faculty member at the Berklee College of Music from 1979 until his retirement. He also served as conductor of the Berklee Concert Wind Ensemble from 1983-98. An advocate for new music, he began the annual Berklee student composition competition, which has produced hundreds of new compositions since its initiation in 1983.

In addition to his capacity as an educator, conductor, composer, and performer, Fritze has been a guest lecturer at many colleges, and festivals spanning from the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe. These include Convegno Bandistico Cantonale in Mendrisio, Switzerland, Sapporo Music Festival, MusicFest Canada Ottawa, and MusicFest Canada Calgary.


Works for Winds


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