Mona Lyn Reese
Encyclopedia
Mona Lyn Reese is an American composer
, best known for her operas and choral music. Her work is melodic and accessible with an emphasis on driving or complex rhythms, movement, and contrasting textures. Her music communicates and expresses emotions traditionally or experimentally without allowing a prevailing fashion to dictate style, form, or harmony.
, and began piano lessons at age six, flute lessons at age eight, and taught herself guitar at age 13. She attended the University of Minnesota, Morris
, (BA), where she also studied flute performance, composition and French. She continued at the University of Kansas
(MM Composition), writing Love Songs to the Moon and Piano Moods. She began composing professionally in 1975, with music for woodwind quintet and percussion to a documentary film on Kansas
. Reese was Composer in residence at the Minnesota Opera
from 1991–99, where she arranged works for the Minnesota Opera
touring company and conducted educational residencies to help students write and produce original operas.
In 1993, Reese was awarded a Faith Partners Residency sponsored by the American Composers Forum
and the Otto Bremer Foundation. During this residency, she collaborated with librettist Delores Dufner
OSB
, on the dramatic oratorio Choose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim
which premiered at the Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis (Teri Larson, Music Director) in 1994. The following year, the Otto Bremer Foundation gave Reese an additional grant to write a symphonic version which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
in 1995. The symphonic version was performed by the Billings Symphony Orchestra
& Chorale (Uri Barnea, Music Director) in 1996, and was also performed by the Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis (Teri Larson, Music Director), as part of the “Basilica 2000” series. In 2011, the San José Chamber Orchestra and Chorus released Choose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim (album)
, recorded at Skywalker Sound
in Marin County, California
.
Reese received a Continental Harmony commission in 2000, created by the American Composers Forum
and the National Endowment for the Arts
to enable small to mid-size communities in each state to commission new pieces for the millennium. Continental Harmony was an official partner of the White House Millennium Council
. Reese composed Suite Carroll County for the Carroll County Orchestra and Chorale in Carrollton, Ohio
.
Reese's opera The Three Fat Women of Antibes received its premier performance with orchestra in May 2009 by the San José State University
Opera Workshop (Michel Singher
, Music Director, Daniel Helfgot, Director). The opera, written with her husband and librettist Thomas Hassing, is a humorous chamber opera for four singers based on the W. Somerset Maugham
short story of the same name. The opera premiered in Minneapolis, Minnesota
in 1998. Other performances include the University of Kansas
Opera Studio (2002), Goat Hall Productions (San Francisco, California
, 2003, selections), and Gregory Weist (Munich, Germany, 2005, selections).
In 2003, Reese was selected as a Studium Scholar-in-Residence at Saint Benedict's Monastery (St. Joseph, MN). During her time there, Reese planned the chamber orchestra composition Little Pieces from My Heart, commissioned by the San José Chamber Orchestra.
Reese’s orchestral works have been performed by orchestras throughout the United States including the Minnesota Orchestra
, the Livingston Symphony Orchestra (Livingston, New Jersey
), the Atlanta Symphony, the Minnesota Sinfonia
, and the San José Chamber Orchestra. She had her first European performance with the Czech Radio Symphony in 1997.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, best known for her operas and choral music. Her work is melodic and accessible with an emphasis on driving or complex rhythms, movement, and contrasting textures. Her music communicates and expresses emotions traditionally or experimentally without allowing a prevailing fashion to dictate style, form, or harmony.
Biography
Reese was born in Morris, MinnesotaMorris, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,068 people, 1,929 households, and 985 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,183.2 people per square mile . There were 2,067 housing units at an average density of 482.6 per square mile...
, and began piano lessons at age six, flute lessons at age eight, and taught herself guitar at age 13. She attended the University of Minnesota, Morris
University of Minnesota, Morris
University of Minnesota Morris is a public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges located in Morris, Minnesota, United States...
, (BA), where she also studied flute performance, composition and French. She continued at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
(MM Composition), writing Love Songs to the Moon and Piano Moods. She began composing professionally in 1975, with music for woodwind quintet and percussion to a documentary film on Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. Reese was Composer in residence at the Minnesota Opera
Minnesota Opera
The Minnesota Opera is a performance organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was founded in 1963 by the Walker Art Center, and is known for premiering such diverse works as Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and Frankenstein by Libby Larsen...
from 1991–99, where she arranged works for the Minnesota Opera
Minnesota Opera
The Minnesota Opera is a performance organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was founded in 1963 by the Walker Art Center, and is known for premiering such diverse works as Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and Frankenstein by Libby Larsen...
touring company and conducted educational residencies to help students write and produce original operas.
In 1993, Reese was awarded a Faith Partners Residency sponsored by the American Composers Forum
American Composers Forum
The American Composers Forum is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and assistance of American composers and their music. It was founded in 1973 as the Minnesota Composers Forum and is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States...
and the Otto Bremer Foundation. During this residency, she collaborated with librettist Delores Dufner
Delores Dufner
Delores Dufner is an American sacred music composer and librettist whose works have been included in Catholic hymnals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Dufner is a nun of the Order of Saint Benedict....
OSB
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
, on the dramatic oratorio Choose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim
Choose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim
Choose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim, is a dramatic oratorio by composer Mona Lyn Reese and librettist Delores Dufner OSB, that draws on Jewish and Christian music and scripture, as well as the writings of Holocaust survivors, to create an interfaith commemoration of the Holocaust...
which premiered at the Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis (Teri Larson, Music Director) in 1994. The following year, the Otto Bremer Foundation gave Reese an additional grant to write a symphonic version which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in 1995. The symphonic version was performed by the Billings Symphony Orchestra
Billings Symphony Orchestra
The Billings Symphony Orchestra ia an American orchestra based in Billings, Montana.The Symphony was founded in 1950, while the chorale was founded in 1955 . The Billings Symphony serves South Central Montana, Eastern Montana and Northern Wyoming as the only symphonic and chorale music in the region...
& Chorale (Uri Barnea, Music Director) in 1996, and was also performed by the Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis (Teri Larson, Music Director), as part of the “Basilica 2000” series. In 2011, the San José Chamber Orchestra and Chorus released Choose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim (album)
Choose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim (album)
Choose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim , is a studio album of the Choose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim dramatic oratorio by composer Mona Lyn Reese and librettist Delores Dufner OSB, released by the San José Chamber Orchestra and Chorus in 2011....
, recorded at Skywalker Sound
Skywalker Sound
Skywalker Sound is the sound effects, sound editing, sound design, sound mixing and music recording division of George Lucas' Lucas Digital motion picture group. Its main facilities are located in Lucas Valley, near Nicasio, California...
in Marin County, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Reese received a Continental Harmony commission in 2000, created by the American Composers Forum
American Composers Forum
The American Composers Forum is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and assistance of American composers and their music. It was founded in 1973 as the Minnesota Composers Forum and is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States...
and the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
to enable small to mid-size communities in each state to commission new pieces for the millennium. Continental Harmony was an official partner of the White House Millennium Council
White House Millennium Council
The White House Millennium Council was an American organization established by Executive Order 13072 in 1998 by President Bill Clinton to commemorate the millennium...
. Reese composed Suite Carroll County for the Carroll County Orchestra and Chorale in Carrollton, Ohio
Carrollton, Ohio
Carrollton is a village in Carroll County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,190 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carroll County.Carrollton is part of the Canton–Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
.
Reese's opera The Three Fat Women of Antibes received its premier performance with orchestra in May 2009 by the San José State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
Opera Workshop (Michel Singher
Michel Singher
Michel Singher is a French born conductor currently serving as a Coordinator of Opera at San José State University's School of Music and Dance in San Jose, California....
, Music Director, Daniel Helfgot, Director). The opera, written with her husband and librettist Thomas Hassing, is a humorous chamber opera for four singers based on the W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
short story of the same name. The opera premiered in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
in 1998. Other performances include the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
Opera Studio (2002), Goat Hall Productions (San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, 2003, selections), and Gregory Weist (Munich, Germany, 2005, selections).
In 2003, Reese was selected as a Studium Scholar-in-Residence at Saint Benedict's Monastery (St. Joseph, MN). During her time there, Reese planned the chamber orchestra composition Little Pieces from My Heart, commissioned by the San José Chamber Orchestra.
Reese’s orchestral works have been performed by orchestras throughout the United States including the Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
, the Livingston Symphony Orchestra (Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 29,366.Livingston was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 5, 1813, from portions of Caldwell Township and Springfield...
), the Atlanta Symphony, the Minnesota Sinfonia
Minnesota Sinfonia
Minnesota Sinfonia is a professional non-profit orchestra whose mission is to serve the musical and educational needs of the citizens of Minnesota, especially families with children, inner-city youth, seniors and those with limited financial means...
, and the San José Chamber Orchestra. She had her first European performance with the Czech Radio Symphony in 1997.
Selected works
- Stevens County Fair for symphony orchestra (1983)
- The Mitten for orchestra ensemble and narrator (1986)
- Tombeau for Michael Collins for harpsichord (1987)
- Choose Life, Uvacharta BachayimChoose Life, Uvacharta BachayimChoose Life, Uvacharta Bachayim, is a dramatic oratorio by composer Mona Lyn Reese and librettist Delores Dufner OSB, that draws on Jewish and Christian music and scripture, as well as the writings of Holocaust survivors, to create an interfaith commemoration of the Holocaust...
dramatic oratorio (1994) - From My Heart Springs A Song for SSA choir (1994)
- Prince for symphony orchestra (1994)
- Suite Carrol County for SATB choir and chamber orchestra (2000)
- Winter Melodies for string orchestra (2001)
- Little Pieces From My Heart for string orchestra, flute, piano and percussion (2004)
- Arise and Shine for SATB choir, organ and brass ensemble (2005)
- Toboggan for SATB choir and flute (2005)