C.R. Kasprzyk

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C.R. Kasprzyk: Composer, performances throughout North America. 2003, only undergraduate recipient of the Midwest Graduate Music Consortium Composition Contest. Selected for MusicX' Festival. Commissions/performances; Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall, Wiggle Pictures/Ghetto Film School Productions, Grand Valley State University, many saxophonists including Michael Straus, Jennifer Grantham and James McCain. Encore grant recipient (American Composers Forum).

Saxophonist, presented many world premieres. Guest artist; New World Symphony, Spark Festival, CCRMA (Stanford University) and Carnegie Hall.

Informal training; Kaija Saariaho, Tristan Murail, many other prominent figures. Bachelors degree, Grand Valley State University. Two masters degrees in two years from the Peabody Conservatory.

2005-2007, faculty throughout Maryland including Morgan State University. Site coordinator, Creative Access. Currently faculty, Bluefield College. Contributing writer, New River Voice.

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Full Bio

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Born in Allegan, Michigan, C.R. Kasprzyk (cory kasp-shick) is a versatile musician embracing all periods of music while committing to the support and development of today's classical music and the saxophone's use in multiple genres. As a performer and composer, Kasprzyk's music can be heard throughout the United States and abroad, in venues ranging from bookstores to Carnegie Hall.

Kasprzyk's music has been described as "...full of wind, height, and velocity" (Baltimore City Paper) drawing an intangible parallel between a cognizance of one's surroundings and music transcribed from (or inspired by) this environment. Of particular interest is human impact on the planet, having initiated many (musical and non-musical) events to further actuate these ideas. From the harmonic analysis of an elevator to the rhythmic examination of a crowd of people's speech, many excursions lead to a musical depiction of traveling through one's environment, drawn from the context of how we interact therein. Volatile at times, the music also finds inspiration in an eclectic fusion of free improvisation, off-kilter pop/rock, and the evolution of western classical music, exploring the dichotomy of mixing strict notation with improvisation or other loosely based notational systems. He often delves into the acoustics of sound as well as the visual elements and pure physicality required of (traditional and non-) instruments, in effort to form one vivid entity.

Kasprzyk's excursions lie not only in the craft of writing music, but the exploration of music perception and presentation. This is evident in his long time association with The Creative Access Outreach Program. Similarly, he is co-founder of the Illusory Correlations Concert Series ("which explores the construction of auditory experiences for an audience, and the interpretation, or misinterpretation of the composer's intended music messages"), and the After Now Concert Series.

In 2003, Kasprzyk was the only undergraduate recipient of the Midwest Graduate Music Consortium Composition Contest, which resulted in a performance in Chicago. Kasprzyk was also selected to participate in the MusicX' Festival where his work, The Cry for Solace was performed. Since then his music has been presented at multiple venues and festivals throughout the country including Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall, the Spark Festival, Electronic Music Midwest, 60x60 Project, Red Room, West Point Military Academy, Bowerbird, and Saint Peter's Church Classical Concert Series, as well as many universities and conservatories throughout the country. Further commissions and performances include the School for the Creative and Performing Arts, the Intrada Winds, Grand Valley State University, The Old Vienna Comedy Project, Wiggle Pictures/The Ghetto Film School, Coalescence Percussion Duo, and a wealth of saxophonists including Jennifer Grantham and James McCain. Kasprzyk was also a composer and the logistical manager for the inaugural 24hc (24-hour concert) at the Peabody Institute.

Kasprzyk has also received several other accolades including the Randolph S. Rothschild and Ada Arens Morawetz Memorial Awards in Composition, two Peabody Career Development Grants, and an Encore Grant from the American Composers Forum. In 2006 he was in residence at Grand Valley State University, featured as a composer and saxophonist with numerous performances, lectures, and masterclasses.

With performances of music ranging from baroque to today, to the freely improvised, Kasprzyk presents diverse programs as a saxophonist, often incorporating his work with composers, particularly those of his generation. He has given many world premieres including works by J. Anthony Allen, Robert Hamilton (at the Spark Festival), and Samuel Burt (at the Peabody Conservatory). A featured artist at the opening ceremony of Peabody's Music for the World, Kasprzyk has also served as saxophonist with the Grand Valley and New World Symphony Orchestras (under Michael Tilson Thomas), as well as guest artist with many ensembles including the Towson New Music Ensemble. In 2006 he was an invited soloist on the CCRMA Concert Series (Stanford University), performing multiple saxophones, electronics, and various other instruments (such as balloon drums) made by Kasprzyk.

Finding a medium to combine his abilities as composer and performer, Kasprzyk is active in the world of free improvisation, having performed at The Red Room, Load of Fun Gallery, the High Jinx Festival, and recorded with members of the 2005 High Zero Festival. Collaborations have led to an ever-growing list of musicians including Peter Jacquemyn, Rosie Hertlein, John Berndt, Samuel Burt, Rose Hammer, Devin Grey, Dan Breen, and Joel Grip.

Kasprzyk has received informal private study from Kaija Saariaho and Tristan Murail, among many other prominent figures. He holds a bachelors degree in saxophone performance from Grand Valley State University where he studied saxophone with Laurie Sears and Arthur Campbell, as well as composition with Kurt Ellenberger. Kasprzyk also obtained two masters degrees in two years from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University where he studied under the tutelage of Gary Louie and Christopher Theofanidis.

Kasprzyk has taught extensively at institutions throughout the Midwest and in Maryland. From 2005 to 2007 he served as the saxophone professor at Morgan State University, teaching this and other music related topics. He was also on faculty at The Maryland Conservatory and served as a site coordinator for The Creative Access. Kasprzyk currently serves on faculty at Bluefield College and is a contributing writer for the New River Voice.

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Note:
A demo CD (for both saxophone and composition) is available.

Curriculum Vita
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Biography (updated: 9.29.07)
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