Greeley Philharmonic Announces First Ever Composer in Residence
The Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO), a regional professional orchestra, has announced its first ever Composer in Residence, Dylan Fixmer. A composer in residence is most often connected with some of the largest orchestras in the world, but the GPO is taking yet another bold step outside of ‘the norm’ with this latest initiative. “A Composer in Residence (CIR) provides a highly individualized professional development path to introduce new music to communities,” says Nick Kenny, Executive Director. “Dylan is eager to step beyond his previous compositions to take the timeless artform of orchestral music and infuse it with the artistic, creative, and collaborative sensibilities relevant to our community in Northern Colorado. The GPO is excited at the opportunity to premiere new works by Dylan over the coming season(s).”
Colorado-based composer and musician, Dylan Fixmer, is a genuine and passionate artist whose works reflect his diverse music career and variety of musical influences. Dylan received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from University of Colorado at Boulder, and his Masters Degree in Music Education from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. His music is inspired by the beauty of nature and the human spirit. Composing for others is Dylan’s way to seek truth and heal the soul. He draws upon a multitude of musical styles and traditions from Classical to Rock, Jazz to Irish, Balkan to Americana, and beyond.
Classically trained at University of Colorado and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Dylan infuses his work with numerous musical traditions from Rock, to Jazz, to traditional Irish Folk Music, among countless others. Recent works include commissions and premieres from, Mt. Blanca Fine Arts Association, The Sona Duo, University of Northern Colorado Faculty Recital Series, and the Japanese/American Chamber Music Festival set to take place in Kyoto, Japan in 2023. Dylan has been the composer in residence for the Mt. Blanca Fine Arts Association and the North Fork Community Chorus. As a multi-faceted and imaginative composer, Dylan writes for multifarious contexts from orchestral and traditional solo and ensemble work, to theater, choir, film, and narrative, including the soundtrack for the recent release of the audio book “Adventures of a Mystic Warrior” by Robert Rocco D’Ordine, and author Craig Child’s multi-media production “Dark Night”. Dylan’s compositions have been featured on KAFM-Grand Junction, Rifle Community Television, KVNF-Paonia, KDNK-Carbondale, and on albums by Sarah Off, The Embodying Rhythm Marimba Ensemble, The Scones, Sarah Louise Pipelow, The Mollie Scholars, and many more. Dylan studied composition with Carter Pann at the University of Colorado.
An active and dynamic performing artist, Dylan has performed with a wide range of acts including Glen Valez and Loire Cotler, and currently performs with the Embodying Rhythm Marimba Ensemble, and “Traditionish”. He has appeared in performance at such venues as Montrose Pavilion, Boettcher Hall, Blue Sage Theater, Rob Miller’s “Pickin in the Park”, The New Ute Event Center, and Paradise Theater. He has recorded numerous albums including Embodying Rhythm Marimba Ensemble’s “Music for Everyday Life”, Traditionish “Traditionish”.
As an educator, Dylan served as Associate Instructor of Music and “First Voices” Choir Director at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He taught K-8 general music, jazz band, and drama at Hotchkiss K-8 School, and is a current faculty member at the Mt. Blanca Music Conservatory in Colorado. Public speaking engagements include presentations at the Colorado Music Educators Association Conference, the Indiana Music Educators Conference, the Delta County School District Professional Development Day, and guest speaker at the University of Northern Colorado School of Music.