Vist her web site for more information.

 Annual Updates

2008

 
Margaret Shelton Meier received her 18th composition award from the ASCAP Standard Awards Panel (1990 through 2008). Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Brandon, accompanied by the composer at the piano, premiered three of the four songs in the song cycle Life’s Best Gifts at a Los Angeles National Association of Composers, USA (NACUSA) House Concert on December 3, 2006. The texts are poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, known as the “Father of African American Poets.”

Premieres

Organist Wilbur Held introduced Variations on ‘Southwell’ February 27, 2007, at a Pomona Valley (CA) Musicians’ Club concert; on the same program soprano Woo Young Lee sang the two Mary Magdalene songs from Meier’s Three Marys in Four Songs, accompanied by the composer. The same program was repeated March 10 as part of the Mt. San Antonio College Music Department Showcase. 

Performances

Organist Frances Norbert presented Romantic Passacaglia as part of a concert titled “Music She Wrote,” March 19, 2006, at Trinity Church-Episcopal, New Orleans, LA; and on June 19 at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, Scottsdale, AZ. Mezzo-soprano Eileen Squillo and pianist Louise Earhart performed the Christmas song “Mary, Mother of Jesus,” from Three Marys in Four Songs on a December 2 Dominant Club Rancho Boca de Santa Monica concert.

Publications

Hymns for the “In-Between Times”; arrangements of a wide variety of 12 non-seasonal hymns for organ that can be easily adapted for piano; available through the composer’s web site: www.meiermusic.com.

2007

You are invited to visit Margaret Shelton Meier’s website: www.meiermusic.com.

Premieres

The commissioned work Jelly Suite, a tribute to the beauty and wonder of jellyfish, was presented January 21, 2006, by commissioning artist, pianist Barbara Rogers, with flutist Michele Frisch, clarinetist Jan Scholl, and bassoonist Cheryl Kelley, Northwestern College Faculty Artist Concert Series. A SOCSA Quilt, a cantata on the subject of childhood sexual abuse and recovery, was given its premiere on June 17 by the Ars Brunensis Chorus and the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Andreas H. Baumgartner, Philharmonic Hall, Olomouc, Czech Republic.

Performances

Gary Toops joined the composer in a piano duet version of Kartonyal Procession, Mt. San Antonio College Music Department Showcase. Trinity Toccata was presented by organist Ronald Sider at Grace United Methodist Church, Harrisburg, PA. Two songs from Eight for Emily (Dickinson) were heard in a performance by Keiko Clark and James Wilson, NACUSA concert, Culver City, CA. Kimball Wheeler, accompanied by pianist Frank Basile, performed two Mary Magdalene songs from the song cycle Three Marys in Four Songs in recital at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, Mar Vista, CA. God With Us: 2000 Years, a Christmas cantata, was presented December 24 by the combined choirs of Bell United Methodist Church, Rowland Heights, CA, under the direction of Sunny Lee Byun.

2006

You are invited to visit Margaret Shelton Meier’s website: www.meiermusic.com.

Premieres

Morning in the Garden was introduced by pianist Delores Stevens on December 5, 2004, at a National Association of Composers, USA “house concert,” and performed again on March 12, 2005, by Katherine Kim at the Mount San Antonio College Music Department Showcase concert, Walnut, CA. For Joy That a Woman Child is Born, a piano concerto in one movement, was first heard in a March 13 performance by Barbara Rogers and the Claremont Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of James Fahringer.

Performances

Romantic Passacaglia on a Twelve Tone Theme received performances by organist Frances Nobert on a noon Lenten concert series, February 16, 2005, at First United Methodist Church of Santa Barbara, CA, and March 1 at a First Christian Church Mu Phi Epsilon concert, Fullerton, CA; the composition also received an performance October 15 by organist Geraldine Keeling on an organ marathon concert at Trinity United Methodist Church, Pomona, CA. The Cal Poly String Ensemble, under the direction of Kay Pech, performed Journey of a Song twice in one evening, March 1, using it to bookend  an educational concert of string music through the ages. Lynda Sue Marks-Guarnieri, accompanied by pianist Jan Sanborn, performed the song cycle Celebration. Sorrow. Strength. on May 14, 2005 at MacBird Recital Hall and on October 23 on the St. Mark’s concert series; Marks-Guarnieri also performed “Rachel Crying,” a song from the cycle, at an SAI recital on October 15. Miriam Sang was heard in a July performance by soprano Carol Eikum, in Kiev, Russia.

Recordings

Wisdom – Wholeness – Women: Songs of Our Faith Journey with God and For Joy that a Woman Child is Born: Orchestral Music of Margaret S.Meier; both available from the composer at www.meiermusic.com.