William MacSems, Composer |
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Biography
William (Bill) MacSems was born in New York City, N.Y. in 1930. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1959 from California StateUniversity, Los Angeles. He studied with Roger Nixon to earn his Master of Arts Degree in Music Composition from California State University at San Francisco in 1967. In 1970-71 he studied with Gottfried von Einem at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria.
Mr. MacSems was commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce of Nevada City, California to write the music for a musical show in celebration of the California Bicentennial. He was honored as a composer by the San Mateo County (Ca) Choral Society at a concert featuring his composition, “The Key”. The San Mateo Arts Commission presented him with a grant to supplement production costs for his opera, “The Outcasts Of Poker Flat”. In 1995 he received another commission by The Townsend Opera in Modesto, California to compose “Hymn Of The Valley”, a tribute to the Great Central Valley of California. The Capitol Pops Concert Band commissioned him to compose a composition honoring its’ 10th anniversary.
He founded and directed community theater. He was conductor of the Glen Rock, N.J. Community Orchestra, guest conductor of the Coastside Community Orchestra in Half Moon Bay, Ca, conductor and guest conductor of the Nevada County Concert Band, in Nevada City and Grass Valley, Ca. His music has been performed in Vienna Austria, Bucharest, Romania, in and around San Francisco and Sacramento, Ca., and Cleveland, Oh. Mr. MacSems taught music in the public schools of California and New Jersey from 1959 to 1998.
His library of compositions include vocal, (solo and choral) opera, musicals, chamber ensembles, orchestra, symphonic band and “big” band arrangements.
His music has been performed in Vienna Austria, Bucharest, Romania, in and around San Francisco and Sacramento, Ca., and Cleveland, Oh.
My website http://
www.macscomp.com
For audio selections go to: www.soundcloud.com filter=POPULAR
For Commissions or questions relating to the catalogue, contact: William MacSems. [email protected]