Cary Boyce
Encyclopedia
Cary Boyce is artistic co-director and composer-in-residence of the production company and musical ensemble
Aguavá New Music Studio, which specializes in producing projects involving contemporary music.
Boyce's music
has been heard around the world in more than 25 countries, on nationally syndicated public radio
and television
, in concert
and festival
s, and in two films by Prix-de-Rome-winning director Evelyne Clavaud — Aria ou les rumeurs de la Villa Medicís and her artistic documentary, Mandiargues: L'amateur d'imprudence, about the French Surrealist author. His credits include original music and the recording the soundtrack for the documentary American Horizons: The Photography of Art Sinsabaugh, part of the Sinsabaugh exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago
and currently touring museums in the midwest. His oratorio, Dreams within a Dream, is the subject of a public radio special released in 2004. His music was featured on the Dale Warland Singers Cathedral Classics nationally syndicated radio special, as well as on their concerts in Minnesota. His music, performed by his Aguavá ensemble, has also been featured on such syndicated shows as Harmonia, Center Stage from Wolftrap, and CD-Tipp syndicated in Europe by Deutsche Welle. His cantata, Ave Maris Stella, was premiered by Aguavá New Music Studio at the International Cervantino Festival in Mexico, and subsequently broadcast throughout Latin America. His Hodie Christus natus est premiered at Washington National Cathedral's 50th anniversary holiday concert, winning the National Young Composers Award. His quartet, Nightshade, was recorded for Aguavá by the Corigliano String Quartet. Boyce is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including awards from Arts International, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Indiana Arts Commission. Boyce frequently tours with Aguavá as a pianist or singer.
Born in Santa Rosa, California
, United States
, Boyce was raised in Sacramento
where he found his first musical training singing high school choruses and teaching himself to play the piano. He went on to earn a bachelor of music degree with a double major in voice and theory/composition at California State University, Sacramento
, and later a master of music degree at the University of North Texas
under the guidance of Martin Mailman
with a cognate in piano studying with Joseph Banowetz
. He earned his doctorate at Indiana University
Bloomington with teachers Eugene O'Brien and Claude Baker
with minors in conducting and theory.
Boyce also trained as a figure skater since he was 16, and skated with Holiday on Ice
in Europe for a time in the early 80s. This experience added to his love of ballet
and dance genres. He left professional skating to teach for Ice Capades Chalet at the Dallas Galleria while working on his master’s degree at the University of North Texas
.
His education was assisted by scholarships and teaching fellowships while he worked steadily as a church and synagogue musician, a practice that shaped his understanding of choral genres. Between degrees Boyce traveled widely through the United States and Europe. Upon settling in Bloomington, Indiana, he has pursued a career based on his commitment ot the idea of the composer as a voice for the community. He has been an active participant in artistic and musical outreach endeavors of the city, not only as a composer, but also as a producer and music essayist with public radio, online journals, major orchestras, and community presses.
Boyce's music is published by Boosey & Hawkes and by Aguavá New Music Studio. He remains active as a tenor
, pianist
, and conductor
.
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
Aguavá New Music Studio, which specializes in producing projects involving contemporary music.
Boyce's music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
has been heard around the world in more than 25 countries, on nationally syndicated public radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, in concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
and festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
s, and in two films by Prix-de-Rome-winning director Evelyne Clavaud — Aria ou les rumeurs de la Villa Medicís and her artistic documentary, Mandiargues: L'amateur d'imprudence, about the French Surrealist author. His credits include original music and the recording the soundtrack for the documentary American Horizons: The Photography of Art Sinsabaugh, part of the Sinsabaugh exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
and currently touring museums in the midwest. His oratorio, Dreams within a Dream, is the subject of a public radio special released in 2004. His music was featured on the Dale Warland Singers Cathedral Classics nationally syndicated radio special, as well as on their concerts in Minnesota. His music, performed by his Aguavá ensemble, has also been featured on such syndicated shows as Harmonia, Center Stage from Wolftrap, and CD-Tipp syndicated in Europe by Deutsche Welle. His cantata, Ave Maris Stella, was premiered by Aguavá New Music Studio at the International Cervantino Festival in Mexico, and subsequently broadcast throughout Latin America. His Hodie Christus natus est premiered at Washington National Cathedral's 50th anniversary holiday concert, winning the National Young Composers Award. His quartet, Nightshade, was recorded for Aguavá by the Corigliano String Quartet. Boyce is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including awards from Arts International, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Indiana Arts Commission. Boyce frequently tours with Aguavá as a pianist or singer.
Born in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Boyce was raised in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
where he found his first musical training singing high school choruses and teaching himself to play the piano. He went on to earn a bachelor of music degree with a double major in voice and theory/composition at California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
, and later a master of music degree at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
under the guidance of Martin Mailman
Martin Mailman
Martin Mailman was an American composer noted for his music for orchestra, chorus, multimedia, and winds.-Biography:Dr. Martin Mailman was born in New York City on June 30, 1932...
with a cognate in piano studying with Joseph Banowetz
Joseph Banowetz
Joseph Banowetz December 5, 1936, is an American-born pianist, pedagogue, author, and editor, currently teaching at the University of North Texas...
. He earned his doctorate at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
Bloomington with teachers Eugene O'Brien and Claude Baker
Claude Baker
W. Claude Baker Jr. is an American composer of contemporary classical music.Claude Baker attained a B.M. degree, magna cum laude, from East Carolina University in 1970. He subsequently studied composition at the Eastman School of Music with Samuel Adler and Warren Benson, and holds M.M. and D.M.A...
with minors in conducting and theory.
Boyce also trained as a figure skater since he was 16, and skated with Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice is an ice show currently produced by Joop van den Ende's Stage Entertainment Group with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
in Europe for a time in the early 80s. This experience added to his love of ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
and dance genres. He left professional skating to teach for Ice Capades Chalet at the Dallas Galleria while working on his master’s degree at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
.
His education was assisted by scholarships and teaching fellowships while he worked steadily as a church and synagogue musician, a practice that shaped his understanding of choral genres. Between degrees Boyce traveled widely through the United States and Europe. Upon settling in Bloomington, Indiana, he has pursued a career based on his commitment ot the idea of the composer as a voice for the community. He has been an active participant in artistic and musical outreach endeavors of the city, not only as a composer, but also as a producer and music essayist with public radio, online journals, major orchestras, and community presses.
Boyce's music is published by Boosey & Hawkes and by Aguavá New Music Studio. He remains active as a tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.