About Me
Kevin Ure, born in Pasadena, California in 1978, has studied and performed with many prominent composers and performers including Virko Baley, Daniel Asia, Alfred Reed, Harry Begian, Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel, Mark Jenkins, Eric Whitacre, Steven Bryant, Dr. Craig Walsh, Dr. Pamela Decker, Curtis-Curtis Smith, Dr. Richard Adams, Don Hannah, Takoyoshi Suzuki, Shoichiro Hokazono, Mimi Stillman, Richard Meyrick, Dr. Paul Chihara, James Mobberley, Jeffrey Cotton, Robert Beaser, Dan Coleman, Dr. James Stivers, Bobby Scann, Professor Anthony LaBounty, and Professor Tom Leslie. He has also been privileged with the opportunity to study at multiple universities throughout the country including The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, The Universities of Nevada in Las Vegas and Reno, and Western Michigan University.
As a composer, Mr. Ure's compositions have received numerous performances, most notably, commissions from the Silverado Chamber Ensemble in Las Vegas, a World Premiere at the Las Vegas Centennial Celebration, performances by The Las Vegas Brass Choir, The University of Arizona, The University of Nevada, Western Michigan University, and The Las Vegas Music Festival.
His formal education includes instruction on brass, woodwinds, strings, the piano, and his primary instrument – the euphonium. Mr. Ure has performed with, composed for, and conducted many ensembles both nationally and internationally, including the President’s Navy Band, the UNLV Wind Orchestra, the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Las Vegas Brass Band, has performed in tours of both Japan and Europe, as well as in a special performance in the 1992 inauguration of former President Bill Clinton.
The composer’s output includes works for orchestra, wind symphony, piano, brass, woodwinds, strings, and percussion ensembles. He has written extensively for soloists and chamber ensembles including: The Fool’s Journey for Orchestra, The Beast of Gevaudan for Brass Choir, La Llorona for Piano, Pavor Nocturnus for Brass Choir, The Garden Tower for Violin and Piano, and Queen Mab for Violin and Piano. He is listed as a composer with Meet the Composer, Sequenza21, ASCAP, About.com, and other notable sources.
Mr. Ure is the founder of and composition instructor for UreMusic.com . His students have a variety of musical interests including jazz, blues, and classical, as well as music for film, television, and video games. His students include professionals working in the field, university students, and amateurs from around the world, including Europe, North America, and Australia. As an instructor and consultant, he reviews hundreds of compositions and supplies literally thousands of pages worth of customized feedback annually to his private students, in addition to providing students with tailored instruction via personalized online courses.
Mr. Ure received his BM in Composition in 2003 from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Upon graduation, he released his first CD, The Beast of Gevaudan. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Michigan to begin work on his Masters degree in Composition, where he specialized in electronic music composition. He soon returned west to attend The University of Arizona, where he earned a MM in Composition in 2007, graduating with honors.
Currently, Mr. Ure maintains multiple responsibilities as the instructor of The Composers Studio at UreMusic.com , as well as an active composer of modern music. He is presently the Director of Music at a research-based lab school affiliated with The University of Arizona, where he teaches music theory, history, performance, and composition to low-income families. He resides in Tucson, AZ with his wife, mezzo-soprano, Erin Ure.
