Composer/guitarist
Jay Derderian's body of work has developed into a diverse and eclectic
sound world, and to date has compiled a catalog of compositions that
includes film scores, incidental music, chamber works, electronic, solo
and symphonic pieces. He strives to break down the stigma of elitism in
the concert hall and make contemporary classical music accessible and
relevant to modern culture and society. Jay recently completed his
undergraduate in composition at Portland State University where he
studied with Dr. Brad Hansen and Dr. Bonnie Miksch. During his time
there, he was a finalist in PSU's annual composition competition.
He also studied guitar with composer/guitarist Bryan Johanson and is
currently pursing his Masters of Science in Music.
Jay's music has
been performed all over Oregon, parts of the United States, and in
Europe. He has received commissions from local film directors for
original soundtracks, and collaborated with artist Scott Wayne Indiana
on the "album in a day" project, where a full length CD of 12 tracks
was written, rehearsed and recorded in 8 hours, all using musicians who
have never met or played with each other before.
His music has been performed by the Portland State New Music Ensemble,
Cascadia Composers, Portland New Music Society, Portland Classical
Revolution and has had his music featured in the Southern Oregon New
Music festival, the College Music Society and the Think Lincoln Concert
Series.
Jay is actively involved in a number of music groups in Portland
including Portland New Music Society, Portland Classical Revolution and
most recently Cascadia Composers. All of these organizations are
devoted to the performance and promotion of new music in the community
and abroad.
"April 6th, 2005: Impromptu Ad Lib Performance of original
music for 'Romeo and Juliet'. Time: 30 minutes. For an artist who is
relatively young, Jay's playing is surprisingly stylized. A rebellious
right hand melody is steadily guided and balanced by a maternal cadence
in the lower keys. Content to stay out of the limelight, the deeper
undertones seem unafraid to become longer when necessary, almost
demanding a response from the lyrical high notes. As if tossing a
complicated social issue back and forth, his left hand sends a message
of convention to a right hand which, though influenced, refuses to
comply. His composition smacks at once of the raw and precious
immaturity of a teenager and the deliberate risks of a compositional
genius. Elaborate, dramatic, but so heartfelt that after 30 minutes,
not a stroke comes off as ingenuous." - Jennifer McDonald, Freelance
art and music writer, Portland, OR.
Jay Derderian, Guitar
Biography
Composer/guitarist
Jay Derderian's body of work has developed into a diverse and eclectic
sound world, and to date has compiled a catalog of compositions that
includes film scores, incidental music, chamber works, electronic, solo
and symphonic pieces. He strives to break down the stigma of elitism in
the concert hall and make contemporary classical music accessible and
relevant to modern culture and society. Jay recently completed his
undergraduate in composition at Portland State University where he
studied with Dr. Brad Hansen and Dr. Bonnie Miksch. During his time
there, he was a finalist in PSU's annual composition competition.
He also studied guitar with composer/guitarist Bryan Johanson and is
currently pursing his Masters of Science in Music.
Jay's music has
been performed all over Oregon, parts of the United States, and in
Europe. He has received commissions from local film directors for
original soundtracks, and collaborated with artist Scott Wayne Indiana
on the "album in a day" project, where a full length CD of 12 tracks
was written, rehearsed and recorded in 8 hours, all using musicians who
have never met or played with each other before.
His music has been performed by the Portland State New Music Ensemble,
Cascadia Composers, Portland New Music Society, Portland Classical
Revolution and has had his music featured in the Southern Oregon New
Music festival, the College Music Society and the Think Lincoln Concert
Series.
Jay is actively involved in a number of music groups in Portland
including Portland New Music Society, Portland Classical Revolution and
most recently Cascadia Composers. All of these organizations are
devoted to the performance and promotion of new music in the community
and abroad.
"April 6th, 2005: Impromptu Ad Lib Performance of original
music for 'Romeo and Juliet'. Time: 30 minutes. For an artist who is
relatively young, Jay's playing is surprisingly stylized. A rebellious
right hand melody is steadily guided and balanced by a maternal cadence
in the lower keys. Content to stay out of the limelight, the deeper
undertones seem unafraid to become longer when necessary, almost
demanding a response from the lyrical high notes. As if tossing a
complicated social issue back and forth, his left hand sends a message
of convention to a right hand which, though influenced, refuses to
comply. His composition smacks at once of the raw and precious
immaturity of a teenager and the deliberate risks of a compositional
genius. Elaborate, dramatic, but so heartfelt that after 30 minutes,
not a stroke comes off as ingenuous." - Jennifer McDonald, Freelance
art and music writer, Portland, OR.