Sophie Tegart and Chris Wilson put together a commission consortium for me to compose a new work for flute and percussion. For more information on how to join the consortium, click HERE.

Excited to be one of the composition faculty members at the Alba Music Festival Composition program. The festival is currently accepting applications for the May 2024 program featuring SOLI Chamber Ensemble, Aaron Jay Kernis, and faculty also including Erich Stem, Carl Schimmel, and J Anthony Allen. The application is free, open to composers of any nationality and stage of career, and some (limited) financial aid is available. To learn more, and to make an application, visit the program website: https://www.albacomposition.com/

Score and parts completed and sent! Just finished my piece Noir for tenor sax, electric guitar, and orchestra and really excited about this new version of the piece. Originally for big band, Chaowen Ting and the Georgia Tech Orchestras commissioned me to create this new version, which will be premiered by the Georgia Tech Concert Orchestra and members of the jazz ensemble on September 26. The piece will feature guest jazz tenor sax soloist Daniel Juárez and electric guitarist Nat Condit-Shultz. Andrea Pérez Muksi will be conducting the performance.

If you are interested in programming Noir for your orchestra after the premiere, send me a message! info@jenniferbellor.com

My composition Ballad of a Wanderer was performed at the 55th International Horn Symposium in Montreal on July 28, 2023. Click HERE for a link to the program. For more information about the piece, click HERE.

I love devoting the month of June to composition projects, website updates, completing other items I haven’t gotten to all year, along with setting new personal goals. I just finished giving my website a little makeover, and I’m excited to share about current projects! Here is a short list of pieces I’m currently working on that are due later this summer. I also added a page CURRENT PROJECTS that I plan to update regularly. This page includes current commissions that need to be done, like, now-ish or in a month or so; large-scale “dream” composition projects still in the planning stages; and new recording and music video projects.

SUMMER COMPOSITION PROJECTS with upcoming deadlines

Cuatro Canciones De Las Ultimas Horas (2023) (Four Songs Of The Las Hours) song cycle for bass and piano

Commissioned by Norman Espinoza, I set four sonnets by Pablo Neruda for Norman to perform with piano. Recently completed back in May, Norman is learning these songs over the summer and he will record them early Fall 2023. Premiere and Release dates TBA.

Noir (2023) – New version for jazz tenor sax, electric guitar, and orchestra

Commissioned by Chaowen Ting, Director of Orchestras at the Georgia Institute of Technology, I am working on a new version of Noir for this new instrumentation. The score and parts are due end of July/early August. Premiere is September 26, 2023.

Indigo Nocturne (2023) for alto saxophone and piano

Commissioned by saxophonist Shawna Pennock, I am creating a new version of Indigo Nocturne specifically for alto saxophone and piano so she can perform the piece at various recitals in the future. Piece will be completed by end of June 2023.

A Smile and a Sigh (2020, 2023) song cycle for soprano and electric guitar

I am revisiting the original version of these songs for soprano and electric guitar in order for them to be recorded and premiered early Fall 2023. I am working with guitarist Tasos Peltekis on the guitar parts this summer. The new recording will be released Fall 2023 featuring Tasos and soprano Olivia Yokers. The premiere will take place September 18, 2023 at the UNLV Nextet series concert.

@jennifer_bellor

Improvising 😊🎹 I’m in the process of creating a version of my piece “Indigo Nocturne” for alto sax and piano and playing around with some ideas! This is a video I took a couple of weeks ago and thought I’d add this as my first improvisation video on here. Hope you enjoy it! (And still working on the piece!) 🎶🎹🎷. . . . #composers #composer #improvisation #piano #pianoimprov #composing #newmusic #brainstorming #composingmusic #homestudiolife .

♬ original sound – Dr.Jenwritesmusic🎶🎹🎻🎸🎷🥁

In addition to my composition projects this summer, one of my goals is to create and share keyboard improvisation videos. One of my favorite activities at home is improvising at my piano and antique pump organ. Improvising gives me happiness and serenity. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to share one of my improvisations on Instagram and Facebook. After receiving some really kind feedback on my first video, I decide this would be one of my new long term projects. I look forward to creating and sharing more improvisations in the coming weeks and cannot wait to communicate more musical ideas with all of you. I hope you enjoy listening!

Carousel (2023)

for string orchestra

Duration: 5′

Click HERE to view a PDF of the score.

Now available for purchase at JW Pepper and Sheet Music Plus

PROGRAM NOTE:

Carousel is inspired by the piece Alone in Kyoto by the french band Air which was featured in the Sophia Coppola Film, Lost in Translation. Scarlett Johansson’s character is exploring the Heian Shrine by herself to the sounds of electronic music, plucked piano and guitar. Carousel features rhythmic pizzicato strings in all four parts with bowed solos in the violins and cellos. The constant driving pizzicatos evoke the feeling of being on a mysterious carousel.

Total playing time is under 5 mins and is Level 4.

Carousel was premiered by the Las Vegas Youth Chamber Orchestra on May 1, 2023, conducted by Tim Warren.

For___* (2023)

for flute, piano, and timpani or violin, piano, and timpani

Duration: 4′

Level of Timpani part: Beginner

Level of Flute and Piano parts: Intermediate/Advanced

Click HERE to view the score with flute

Flute version available for purchase on JW Pepper, Sheet Music Direct, and Sheet Music Plus

Click HERE to view the score with violin

Link to premiere featuring violin

Violin version available for purchase on JW Pepper, Sheet Music Direct, and Sheet Music Plus

Dedicate the piece to your timpani player and add the first name of the timpanist to the title of the piece. This piece was written to feature a timpani player who is in the very early stages of learning the instrument and who wants to perform for the first time with their esteemed musician friends. I wrote the piece for Ellis Landau, a wonderful friend and supporter of the Las Vegas Philharmonic.  Titled FOR ELLIS,  Ellis premiered the piece alongside his distinguished friends  from the Phil at a gala event on March 29, 2023. It was his first time performing on stage and before the premiere, did not have a musical background.

The timpani player (for whom this piece was written) did not read music.  In lieu of the standard notation, I created a chart of numbers for the player.  I also conducted the premiere in order for him to  follow all of my cues and know when to play.  

For more information, please email info@jenniferbellor.com.

Thrilled to share my new music video A Grey Dream

Featuring:

John Irrera, violin

Joe Irrera, piano

Shahab Zargari, Director of Photography and editing

Ron George, Recording, mixing and mastering

Recorded and filmed in Doc Rando Hall, UNLV

A Grey Dream is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.