Nazareth student composer attends the world premiere of his musical composition in Atlanta
Nazareth University music composition student Aaron Soltis ’25 is heading to Atlanta, Georgia, in March for the world premiere of the string orchestra arrangement of The Odyssey of a Seafarer — one of his musical compositions. The Dodgen Middle School Chamber Orchestra from East Cobb, Georgia, will perform Soltis’ piece at the American String Teachers Association Conference on March 21.
Soltis is looking forward to attending the conference and meeting with the chamber orchestra’s directors and their student musicians performing his piece.
“I felt honored, thrilled, and nervous all at the same time,” said Soltis about the group performing his piece. “The sudden shift from student to ‘professional’ composer feels unreal; to know that my music will be played by an amazing group of young musicians at a national conference is amazing. I hope my piece will inspire and delight.”
The Dodgen student orchestra found Soltis’ score after he won the Zicato Music Call for Scores competition in January 2024. He received a two-year distribution contract for The Odyssey of a Seafarer — and a recording by a professional European recording orchestra in Bulgaria. His piece is available on both the Zicato and J.W. Pepper music websites.
His other musical accomplishments include the world premiere of his work Nighttime Veil by the Atlantic Brass Quintet at the Mostly Modern Festival Summer Institute 2024; a world premiere of his choral work Mirage, which was written and performed at the Choral Chameleon Summer Institute concert in 2023; and his musical theater collaboration with librettist Devin Landis, Lucidity: A New Musical, which debuted in 2023 at the Southeastern Theatre Conference Fringe Festival in Kentucky and was selected as the runner-up in the Best of Fringe Award ceremony.
Soltis attributes his success to his professors and colleagues who challenge him to grow as a musician.
“My composition professor, Octavio Vazquez, is a wonderful mentor who strives to make my peers and me the best possible composers we can be,” said Soltis. “Through weekly lessons to the many classes such as orchestration and music theory, the music composition program teaches the fundamentals and technique behind composing and how to establish a unique voice in today's music scene.”
Contact
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
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