A solid foundation in music theory is one of the key components of a quality music education that our teachers provide here at CMS. This deeper understanding helps our students not only master their instruments but also take their musical journey to the next level, by composing and arranging their own pieces. Read more about our student composers and listen to their pieces below:
Ty’lei Singleton, violin student of Carolyn Gaul, is 19 and currently attends Lehigh Carbon Community College with plans to study music composition in the future. Ty’lei wrote “Waltz in D Minor” for piano and violin, which he performed with his teacher, Carolyn Gaul in the virtual Faculty-Student Recital in February 2021. He says he wrote the piece not only for fun, but also to apply the skills he has learned in music theory. The piece originated with improvisation at the piano, but he composed the piano and violin parts simultaneously. Inspired by Dmitri Shostakovich, he wanted the piece to have a “schmaltzy feeling”. He is working on two other pieces titled “Cherry Blossom Opus” and “Sunken Vessel.”
Listen to Ty’lei and Carolyn perform “Waltz in D Minor” during the Brunch in a Bag Watch Party.
Maanya Gope, voice student of Julia Walsh and viola student of Carolyn Gaul, composed and performed “It’s Christmas” in the 2020 CMS Holiday Recital. She is 11 years old and also plays the piano. This piece was inspired by the joy of a Christmas morning. The chords and lyrics took her about two weeks to complete. She thanks Julia for her help with the chords and for her encouragement: Julia says that “She’s really overflowing with creative energy when it comes to songwriting, and I am so glad that she’s brave enough to use it now… she is a pretty intuitive songwriter!” Maanya is currently working on a few other compositions and looks forward to exploring different styles and creating her own special style of music.
Sean Riedy, piano student of Dr. David Saturen, composed and performed several original pieces this school year, including “Waltz in F Minor,” in the virtual Holiday Recital in December 2020. Sean is 17 years old and a rising senior at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, focusing on piano technique. He has been studying piano with Dr. David Saturen at CMS for 2.5 years. Piano is his main instrument, but he has also studied voice and cello. His goals include learning to play many more instruments, composing orchestral pieces, and studying piano technique or musical composition at the collegiate level. Sean says that for “Waltz in F Minor,” he was inspired by Russian composer, Alexander Scriabin, and likewise influenced by Frédéric Chopin. His goal for the piece was to express “bleak, hollow sadness” by using thin accompaniment textures and short melodic phrases. Toward the end, the work settles on a peaceful major rest, only for a restless and angry melody to disturb the tranquility, and then finally ends on a tragically lonely cadence. Sean also composed and performed his original composition “2 Poems: Lento Mystérieux & Allegro Animé.”
Listen to Sean perform “Waltz in F Major”.
Sean also composed and performed his original composition “2 Poems: Lento Mystérieux & Allegro Animé” in the Brunch in a Bag Watch Party.
CJ Ray, piano student of Dr. David Saturen, composed “Swing Blues” and performed the piece in both the 2021 Faculty-Student Recital and the Virtual Brunch Watch Party. Along with his brother, Liam, he has been studying piano with Dr. Saturen at CMS for almost two years and has shown growth in his technical and improvisatory skill, as well as excellent knowledge of swing style. CJ also studies tuba with Nick Conti here at CMS and plans to continue playing tuba in college. He is 11 years old and participates in his school concert band and jazz band, as well as in the Young People’s Philharmonic Wind Symphony for grades 6-9. For “Swing Blues,” he started with a common swing blues bass line and the goal to create something “relaxed and jazzy.” He thanks Dr. Saturen for guiding him in the process and showing him some patterns and techniques that he included in the final piece, which took about 3 months to write, but longer to perfect the playing of it. CJ is currently working on an arrangement of “All of Me,” and we look forward to hearing him play it!
Listen to CJ perform “Swing Blues” in the Brunch in a Bag Watch Party.
Zachary Rex, guitar and composition student of Joe Wagner, composed original music for the National Museum of Industrial History’s web series “Innovation Station.” This episode focuses on the history of electric lighting and the development of the PPL Corporation in Allentown. Listen to Zachary’s compositions beginning at the 1:28 point and again at 7:17: Episode 5: Innovation Station – Electricity on NMIH’s Facebook page. Zachary is 16 years old and has been studying guitar with Joe at CMS for one year.