More Recent News:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent Premiere-
Pennies From Heaven (2010) for prepared piano, ceramic bowls, pennies and fixed electro-acoustic sound.
Program Note: Pennies From Heaven is a work to express gratitude for all of the many small blessings we receive on a daily basis. I am personally thankful to be attending a university with wonderful faculty and supportive colleagues. I also have a loving wife and child that offer me their constant support and guidance. Recognizing the wonderful opportunities I have recently been blessed with in my music, I composed this piece as a way of expressing gratitude as well as being a reminder to us all to give thanks to He that gives all blessings.
Program Note: Pennies From Heaven is a work to express gratitude for all of the many small blessings we receive on a daily basis. I am personally thankful to be attending a university with wonderful faculty and supportive colleagues. I also have a loving wife and child that offer me their constant support and guidance. Recognizing the wonderful opportunities I have recently been blessed with in my music, I composed this piece as a way of expressing gratitude as well as being a reminder to us all to give thanks to He that gives all blessings.
Recent Performance-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the performance of Taksu at UT Austin as part of the 2010 GAMMA-UT Festival.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent Honor- Ben's piece, "Leap" was a finalist in the 2009 Bowling Green State University Composition Competition.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent Performances- Four of Mr. Taylor's recent works received performances on December 4th, 2009 as part of ArtsX at Bowling Green State University. "Ouroboros", "Go Now! You MUST Go Now!", "Slip of the Pen" and "There's No Such Thing." ArtsX is a yearly collaborative showcase of all the Universities Fine Arts programs including visual art, music, theatre and dance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent Performance- "FE26" was selected to be performed by Brian Ellingsen on the New Music Hartford Four Seasons Concert Series, December 13, 2009. For details about the performance click here.
Double Bassist Brian Ellingsen holds a bachelor’s degree from the Hartt School of Music, and a master’s degree from the Yale School of Music. As a soloist, he has won first prize in the Van Rooy Competition for Musical Excellence, runner up in the Paranov Concerto Competition, and performed as a semi-finalist in the 2009 International Society of Bassist’s Solo Competition. As a chamber musician his appearances include the New York Chamber Soloists, Fifth House Ensemble, the 2007 Bang on a Can New Music Festival, and the 2009 Norfolk New Music Workshop. As an advocate for new and experimental music, Brian has been a featured soloist with various new music ensembles, and has also hosted recitals and experimental improvisations in contemporary art galleries.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent Performance- "High Road" was performed on November 18th, 2009 by the Brigham Young University jazz big band Synthesis, under the direction of Ray Smith. The concert was video-recorded by BYU TV for use in their TV broadcasts. Synthesis has recorded several of Ben's big band charts. To listen to a clip of Synthesis playing his arrangement of "The White Cliffs of Dover" click here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent Premiere- "Go Now! You MUST Go Now!" was premiered on November 21, 2009 as part of Double Reed Day at BGSU. This piece is for 3 Oboes and 1 English Horn (3rd Oboe optional Oboe d'amore). Performers are Dr. Jacqueline Leclair, Rena Vacha, Aaron Dell and Joe Basel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent Performance- "Taksu" was premiered in Bryan Recital Hall, Bowling Green State University on September 24th, 2009. Performers are Amanda DeBoer- soprano, Sally Williams, violin, Aleksandr Karjaka, bass clarinet, Ben Taylor- trumpet, Olman Piedra- percussion, Yen-lin Goh- piano/accordion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FE26- Now available for purchase! Mr. Taylor's award winning piece FE26 for amplified double bass and electro-acoustics is now available to purchase from the ISB store online. (International Society of Bassists) FE26 was the Co-winner of First Place in the 2008 International Society of Bassists composition competition, category “bass with additional media.” Click here to visit the ISB online store.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CD Release- Ben's chart "High Road" is the title track of this new double-CD album by BYU's premiere jazz big band, "Synthesis." Also on this CD is Ben's tune, "Concerto por Trombonito" and an arrangement of "The White Cliffs of Dover" featuring vocalist Haley Singley. This CD is available to purchase from Tantara Records, or you can download the songs on itunes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Composition Recital- Ben premiered several new works on his senior composition recital March 4th, 2009 in the Madsen Recital Hall on BYU campus. Click here for the newspaper article written about Ben in the BYU Daily Universe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CD Release- Ben's award winning piece entitled, "Leap" is based on photography by Rodney Smith and featured on the album, "The Fall Collection."
