Sunderman Conservatory of Music

Prof. Avner Dorman writes music of intricate craftsmanship and rigorous technique, expressed with a soulful and singular voice. A native of Israel now living in the United States, Dorman draws on a variety of cultural and historical influences in composing, resulting in music that affects an emotional impact while exploring new territories. His works utilize an exciting and complex rhythmic vocabulary, as well as unique timbres and colors in orchestral, chamber, and solo settings. The world’s finest orchestras, conductors, and soloists have performed Dorman’s music, and many of his compositions have become contemporary staples in the repertoire.

Dorman is an active conductor, and he was recently named music director of CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra. He holds degrees from Tel Aviv University and the Juilliard School, and his major teachers include Josef Bardanashvili and John Corligliano. He currently serves as assistant professor of music theory and composition at the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College.

The 2014-15 season begins with performances of Dorman’s Savage Overture by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta, and Spices, Perfumes, Toxins! by the Atlanta Symphony, led by Robert Spano. CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra will present five performances of the Saxophone Concerto, conducted by the composer. Later in the fall, the Grand Rapids Symphony, along with the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus and Youth Chorus, led by David Lockington, will present the world premiere of Dorman’s large-scale choral symphony, Dialogues of Love. Other world premieres during the upcoming season include a new choral piece for Seraphim Singers in Boston, Dorman’s fourth Violin Sonata, commissioned by the Naumburg Foundation for Tessa Lark, winner of the recent Naumburg Competition for Violin, and a work for pianist Orli Shaham, to be featured on a new recording.

Boston Symphony, led by Asher Fisch, will present Dorman’s Astrolatry in early winter. Later in the season, the Eugene Symphony will present Astrolatry as part of a weeklong residency with the composer, and the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music Symphony Orchestra will take the piece on a five-city tour of Germany, celebrating fifty years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany. Along with its performance in Atlanta, Spices, Perfumes, Toxins! will be performed by Camerata Salzburg, the Eugene Symphony, and by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Uzu and Muzu from Kakaruzu, Dorman’s composition for young audiences, will be featured in eight concerts for schools by the Phoenix Symphony both in the fall and the spring.

This past spring, Dorman’s second Violin Concerto, Nigunim, was premiered by Gil Shaham and CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra led by the composer in May, and the Millikin Chamber Percussion Ensemble premiered and recorded Consumed, for percussion ensemble. Earlier in the season, the NDR Sinfonieorchester presented the German premiere of Uzu and Muzu in German, and the Wheeling Symphony presented the U.S. premiere of Prayer for the Innocents.

Dorman’s music has garnered numerous awards and prizes. At the age of 25, he became the youngest composer to win Israel’s prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for his Ellef Symphony. He has earned several international awards from ASCAP, ACUM and the Asian Composers League. His music is available on Naxos, Deutsche Grammophon, Canary Classics, and other labels. Avner Dorman’s music is published exclusively by G. Schirmer, Inc.