Nickitas J. Demos
Encyclopedia
Nickitas J. Demos is a Greek American
composer
. He is known for his inventive inclusion of Greek elements and influence in his music.
and Case Western Reserve University
where he studied with Donald Erb
. He also holds a Master of Music degree in composition from the Indiana University
Jacobs School of Music
where he studied with Donald Erb, Eugene O’Brien, Harvey Sollberger, and John Eaton. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
where he studied composition with Roger Hannay.
, Philadelphia Orchestra
, Orchestra of St. Luke's
, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
, Colorado Springs Symphony, Oregon Symphony
and the New World Symphony among others. His works for wind ensemble have been performed by the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” and the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico Symphonic Band among others. His chamber works have been performed by North/South Consonance, Thamyris New Music Ensemble, Bent Frequency, the Atlanta Chamber Players and the neoPhonia New Music Ensemble among others. His commissions include works for the Cleveland Orchestra, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Atlanta Community Orchestra, the Atlanta Chamber Players and the Georgia Music Teachers Association.
-FM 90.1 (Atlanta NPR
affiliate).
School of Music. At Georgia State University he is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the neoPhonía New Music Ensemble, the Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences and holder of the Andrew C. and Eula C. Family Founding Chair in Contemporary Greek Studies. Outside of his work at Georgia State University, he currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Society of Composers, Inc. (SCI) and is Co-Founder, Composer-In-Residence and Artistic Board member for Bent Frequency, a professional contemporary music ensemble based in Atlanta. He also serves as the Musical Director for the Greek Islanders, an ethnic ensemble he founded in 1982 specializing in Greek folk music.
Greek American
Greek Americans are Americans of Greek descent also described as Hellenic descent. According to the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimation, there were 1,380,088 people of Greek ancestry in the United States, while the State Department mentions that around 3,000,000 Americans claim to be of Greek descent...
composer
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...
. He is known for his inventive inclusion of Greek elements and influence in his music.
Education
Demos holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition from the Cleveland Institute of MusicCleveland Institute of Music
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an independent music conservatory located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio, United States and is overseen by president Joel Smirnoff and Adrian Daly, dean....
and Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
where he studied with Donald Erb
Donald Erb
Donald Erb was an American composer best known for large orchestral works such as Concerto for Brass and Orchestra and Ritual Observances.-Early years:...
. He also holds a Master of Music degree in composition from the 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...
Jacobs School of Music
Jacobs School of Music
The Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music...
where he studied with Donald Erb, Eugene O’Brien, Harvey Sollberger, and John Eaton. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
where he studied composition with Roger Hannay.
Critical Acclaim
His music has been described as “rich… powerful” having “remarkable substance” as well as “lively… attractive, kinetic and… intriguing” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; as “fresh and exhilarating” by The Nashville Scene; as “…compelling…deeply evocative music…well worth exploring...” by the Georgia Music News and as “ambitious…sophisticated” and “…a reflection of the current mix of styles and aesthetic postures” by the New York based magazine, The New Music Connoisseur. The premiere of his work, "Waltzing through the Endtime," based on the poetry of David Bottoms, was hailed as one of the best classical music events of 2005 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and his activities were also cited in the April 2004 issue of GRAMOPHONE magazine.Performances
Demos has received performances by the Cleveland OrchestraCleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, Orchestra of St. Luke's
Orchestra of St. Luke's
The Orchestra of St. Luke's is an American chamber orchestra based in New York City.It was founded in the summer of 1979 at the Caramoor International Music Festival in Katonah, New York....
, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
As the fifth oldest orchestra in the United States, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has a legacy of fine music making as reflected in its performances in historic Music Hall, recordings, and international tours...
, Colorado Springs Symphony, Oregon Symphony
Oregon Symphony
The Oregon Symphony is an American orchestra based in Portland, Oregon. Founded as the Portland Symphony Society in 1896, it is the sixth oldest orchestra in the United States, and oldest in the Western United States...
and the New World Symphony among others. His works for wind ensemble have been performed by the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” and the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico Symphonic Band among others. His chamber works have been performed by North/South Consonance, Thamyris New Music Ensemble, Bent Frequency, the Atlanta Chamber Players and the neoPhonia New Music Ensemble among others. His commissions include works for the Cleveland Orchestra, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Atlanta Community Orchestra, the Atlanta Chamber Players and the Georgia Music Teachers Association.
Honors and awards
He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards including Grand Prize in the 2004 Millennium Arts International Competition for Composers, Grand Prize in the 2005 Holyoke Civic Symphony Composition Competition, U.S. Birmingham & Atlanta Prizes in the Hultgren 2005 Solo Cello Works Biennial Composition Competition, nine ASCAP Awards as well as Honorable Mentions in the 2004 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Shepherd Composer of the Year Award, International Clarinet Association Composition Competition and the ASCAP/Rudolf Nissim Composers Competition among others. Demos’ works have been programmed at festivals, symposia and conferences including the International Festival – Institute at Round Top; the Ernest Bloch Music Festival (Newport, OR): the Annual New Music & Art Festival (Bowling Green State University); the Biennial Festival of New Music (Florida State University) and at National and Regional Meetings of the College Music Society and the Society of Composers, Inc. His music is published by MMB Music, Inc., recorded on Capstone Records and has been broadcast on WABEWABE
WABE FM 90.1 is a radio station in Atlanta, Georgia, that is affiliated with National Public Radio and Public Radio International . WABE's format features mostly classical music. It has lately added the short feature Atlanta Sounds and twice weekly previews of weekend events around the city...
-FM 90.1 (Atlanta NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
affiliate).
Today
Demos currently holds the positions of Associate Professor of Composition and Coordinator of Composition Studies at the Georgia State UniversityGeorgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
School of Music. At Georgia State University he is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the neoPhonía New Music Ensemble, the Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences and holder of the Andrew C. and Eula C. Family Founding Chair in Contemporary Greek Studies. Outside of his work at Georgia State University, he currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Society of Composers, Inc. (SCI) and is Co-Founder, Composer-In-Residence and Artistic Board member for Bent Frequency, a professional contemporary music ensemble based in Atlanta. He also serves as the Musical Director for the Greek Islanders, an ethnic ensemble he founded in 1982 specializing in Greek folk music.