Ezra Donner is a multi-faceted musician whose musical activity includes composing, performing, conducting, and teaching. His music has been described as "energetic and good humored" ( The Big City ), "fun and uplifting" ( Betsy's View ) and with "energy to spare" ( Miss Music Nerd ), and his works have been performed in Europe, Mexico, Turkey, and throughout the United States. Awards and recognition have come from the Boston New Music Initiative , the Midwest Graduate Music Consortium , the Catholic University of America , the Tobenski-Algera Concert Series , the University of Michigan , and the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Buffalo.
As a pianist, Ezra was selected as a Finalist in the University of Michigan Concerto Competition in 2007, and in 2004 he was a Semi-Finalist (Second Round) in the Oberlin International Piano Competition . He has also served as a Rehearsal Pianist for opera and musical theatre with JCA Management, Brooklyn Repertory Opera , University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society , and Interlochen Arts Camp .
Ezra is also a founding member of Existential Pilot , a new music group dedicated to performing the music of young and emerging composers. The group has performed in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston, as well as throughout the Midwest, and in 2011 the group appeared as guest artists at the University of Louisville. Their live album, released in 2010, is available on iTunes and at CDBaby.com.
Ezra is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music Degree in Composition at Indiana University , where he is a student of Don Freund. He holds degrees from Indiana University , the University of Michigan , and Interlochen Arts Academy .
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Ezra Donner is a multi-faceted musician whose musical activity includes composing, performing, conducting, and teaching. His music has been described as "energetic and good humored" (The Big City), "fun and uplifting" (Betsy's View) and with "energy to spare" (Miss Music Nerd), and his works have been performed in Europe, Mexico, Turkey, and throughout the United States. Awards and recognition have come from the Boston New Music Initiative, the Midwest Graduate Music Consortium, the Catholic University of America, the Tobenski-Algera Concert Series, the University of Michigan, and the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Buffalo.
An active pianist as well as composer, Ezra was selected as a Finalist in the University of Michigan Concerto Competition in 2007, and in 2004 he was a Semi-Finalist (Second Round) in the Oberlin International Piano Competition. He has also served as a Rehearsal Pianist for opera and musical theatre with JCA Management, Brooklyn Repertory Opera, University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and Interlochen Arts Camp.
Ezra is also a founding member of Existential Pilot, a new music group dedicated to performing the music of young and emerging composers. The group has performed in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston, as well as throughout the Midwest, and in 2011 the group appeared as guest artists at the University of Louisville. Their live album, released in 2010, is available on iTunes and at CDBaby.com.
Ezra is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music Degree in Composition at Indiana University, where he is a student of Don Freund. He holds degrees from Indiana University, the University of Michigan, and Interlochen Arts Academy.
OPERA
Antigone (2011), a Chamber Opera in One Act - 45 minutes
ORCHESTRAL
Mountain Suite (2011) [version for String Orchestra] - 14 minutes
Hymn (2010) for Chamber Orchestra - 4 minutes
composed for the Orion Orchestra
Symphonic Idyll (2006) for Orchestra - 7 minutes
composed for the University of Michigan University Symphony Orchestra
CHORAL
A Requiem (2010) for Mixed Chorus (SMATBB) and Piano - 22 minutes
composed for Vox Reflexa
Choral Odes from Antigone (2010) for TTBB Choir - 9 minutes
VOCAL
¡Cigarra! (2010) for Soprano Voice, Violin, Clarinet, Cello, and Piano - 8 minutes
composed for Existential Pilot
Five Songs (2007) for Bass Voice, Solo Cello, and Piano - 7 minutes
composed for bass vocalist Andrew Munn and cellist Maia Dedrick
Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird (2007) for Medium Voice and Piano - 7 minutes
Perpetuum Mobile: The City (2005) for Medium Voice, 12 Woodwinds, and Piano - 11 minutes
Five Poems by William Carlos Williams (2005) for Medium Voice and Piano - 6 minutes
CHAMBER/ SOLO
A Pocket Symphony (2011) [in progress] - 6 minutes
composed for the Deviant Septet
Four Miniatures (2011) for Violin and Guitar - 4 minutes 30 seconds
Variations (2011) for Flute, Bassoon, and Piano - 7 minutes 30 seconds
composed for the Aurea Silva Trio
Mountain Suite (2011) [version for String Quartet] - 14 minutes
Conversations (2010) for Clarinet and Cello - 4 minutes
composed for Ensemble Zellig
High Octane (2010) for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Percussion - 4 minutes
composed for the Sombor Quintet
Rust Belt (2008) for 2 Violins, 2 Violas, and Cello - 8 minutes
Sonata Judaica (2006) for Clarinet and Piano - 7 minutes
composed for Mark Dover
immanent blue (2010) for Solo Flute - 1 minute
composed for the Indiana University New Art/New Music Exhibition
Piano Sonata (2009) - 8 minutes
Caprice (2009) for Solo Viola - 4 minutes
Reviews
George Grella, The Big City 3/10/10
"...The standout pieces on the program were two works by Donner....His Sonata No. 1 for Piano and Sonata Judaica for clarinet and piano performed the vital action of setting their own premises and then attacking them a little bit...."
Linda Kernohan, Miss Music Nerd
6/1/10
"[Donner's] Sonata no. 1 for Piano...had energy to spare, with driving rhythms and harmonies based on 4ths and 5ths. His Sonata Judaica for clarinet and piano gave clarinetist Mark Dover a chance to rock n roll as well."
Betsy Hijazi, Betsy's View
5/26/10
"Ezra Donner...performed his Sonata No. 1 for Piano, which I liked a lot. The third movement, Rapid, was particularly powerful and I was struck by how abruptly the piece ended....The final piece of the concert was Donners Sonata Judaica....It was...fun and uplifting and it showcased the
clarinet in ways you wouldnt normally hear."
To listen to an excerpt, please click a work's title and press the play button to the left
composed for the Orion Chamber Orchestra
¡Cigarra! (2010) for Soprano Voice, Violin, Clarinet, Bongos, and Piano - 8 minutes
composed for Andrew Munn and Maia Dedrick
Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird (2007)
for Medium Voice and Piano - 7 minutes
Perpetuum Mobile: The City (2005) for Medium Voice, 12 Woodwinds, and Piano
11 minutes
Five Poems by William Carlos Williams (2005)
for Medium Voice and Piano - 6 minutes
CHAMBER
5 or more players
Suite (2011) for clarinet, trombone, piano, percussion, violin, and cello - 4 minutes
composed in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Music degree at Indiana University
A Pocket Symphony (2011) for clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, percussion, violin, and
double bass - 6 minutes; composed for the Deviant Septet
3-4 players
Copyright 2011 by Ezra Donner
