About the music:
God So Loved is a chorus composition commissioned by the Honolulu Chorale and performed in the spring of 2008. The text is the well-known John 3:16 in the Bible.
Infinity is a chamber ensemble for clarinet, bassoon, horn, piano, violin, violoncello. and percussion (two players). It was composed in 2005, and this performance was recorded from my recital in March 2007. Here is an excerpt. More info to come later.
"Time Bomb" is the third and final movement from my recent piece (2007) Percussion Concussion for percussion quintet. This was also performed from my composition recital in March 2007. It was performed by members of the University of Hawaii Percussion Ensemble. This piece takes a lot of elements of traditional "Classical" music, but putting it in the rhythmic and timbral context of percussion instruments.
Celestial Chambers is a piece written for the concert band medium. It arose as an "informal commission" by the director of the UH Concert Band for a possible future performance. It was conceived in summer 2003 and completed in winter 2005. The overall idea of this piece was to experiment with combining elements of "pop" music and "art" music. Different orchestration techniques and contrasting melodic, harmonic and rhythmic figures are used, varied, and developed throughout the work. This recording was read through by the students of the UH Wind Ensemble in Fall 2005, under the direction of Mr. Grant Okamura.
This is an excerpt of the last half of the piece. It's not perfect, but it's something good for now...
Deep is a chamber ensemble piece for flute, alto saxophone, horn, marimba, and contrabass. An unusual ensemble combination, the inspiration arose from harmonies and colors of Asian-influenced music. The extensive use of the contrabass drones and marimba rolls, and the horn, alto sax, and flute melodies give the work an overall "meditative" quality. This was recorded live at the Young Composers' Symposium concert, part of the UH music concert series, in December 2005, and was conducted by me.
"Joy to the World/Hallelujah Chorus" is my most recent arrangement, and was originally arranged for two pianos. This arrangement was premiered by students of the Ernest Chang Piano Studio in their annual Christmas in Ensemble concert on Sunday December 21, 2008 in Honolulu Hawaii. This recording is a "special" version orchestrated for symphony orchestra using the sounds of the Garritan Symphony sounds of Finale 2007, and sequenced and with Garage Band.
More music to come later
Bio:
Chris Suzuki is a composer and arranger based in Hawai‘i. A 2007 Bachelor of Music graduate from the University of Hawai‘i at MÄnoa, Chris immediately began composing and arranging for Hawai‘i’s diverse music community.
Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Chris Suzuki showed an avid interest in music, although never seriously studied it until his high school years at Lanakila Baptist. The lack of a music program at his high school allowed him to study music independently until he graduated and began his college career in 2000.
While attending the University of Hawai‘i, Chris studied composition with Professors Donald Reid Womack, E. Takeo Kudo, Byron Yasui, Peter Askim, Daniel Kessner; and band arranging with Daniel Kalantarian. He also studied composition independently with Hawai‘i-based composers Jerré Tanner, and John Starr Alexander. His composition interests lie greatly with the fusion of “Classical†and “Popular†music styles through large ensemble mediums (band, orchestra, chorus), piano music, and vocal music.
Chris has had his works performed and read through by the Honolulu Symphony, Honolulu Chorale, University of Hawai‘i Marching Band, University of Hawai‘i Wind Ensemble, University of Hawai‘i Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University of Hawai‘i Percussion Ensemble, and students of the Ernest Chang Piano Studio. In 2009, Chris has had works in prepared by the Windward Boy Choir, and Montesorri Community School, and currently has many other works in progress for various high school, church, and community ensembles.
Chris is a vocalist with training in Classical and Popular music styles, and can be seen singing with the Honolulu Symphony Chorus and the newly formed Honolulu Symphony Chamber Chorus. He is also presently directing a chorus ministry at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawai‘i Kai.
Not only is Chris Suzuki a composer and arranger, but he is also a promising young entrepreneur. Along with his BM in composition degree from the University of Hawai‘i, Chris also completed a business minor. He has interned with and worked for with the Honolulu Symphony’s Development and Education and Community Outreach departments from 2007 to 2008. One of Chris’s long-term goals is to teach lessons in music theory and composition to student and amateur musicians as a contribution to Hawai‘i’s music community.
Upon completing his degree at the University of Hawai‘i, Chris has been an active member of the American Marketing Association and a founding member of the Pacific Composer’s Project. Currently Chris serves as a board member of the O‘ahu Choral Society, a non-profit group that supports the Honolulu Symphony Chorus, and is a volunteering member of the American Choral Directors’ Association, where he assists with the high-school honor choir, sacred choral music festival, and other Honolulu-based choral activities.
Current music projects/composition commissions:
Composing new art music, Writing new songs, Arranging music for band, Scoring for films. Eventually to record new music, produce new music, and have works performed here and there. Also directing a new choir at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawai'i Kai
I specialize in composition of large ensemble works (chorus, band, symphony orchestra). Any inquiries for new written music or commissions please contact me:
Chris Suzuki
P.O. Box 1901
Kailua, HI 96734
[email protected]
Mission Statement:
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