Written for clarinet and fixed electronics in 2020.
Performed November 2020 at Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX. Originally premiered with mixed media visuals.
Performer: Alyssa Jester

Eclipse

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tim hecker 'this life'

Composer and pianist Art Vavich (he/they) got his start in music at age nine, when his first music teacher told the class about a free notation program and he was the only one who cared enough to try it out. His compositional work focuses on enriching people's lives through art, whether that be through a fun toe-tapping tune or am introspective work. Vavich’s current repertoire largely consists of traditional chamber music but they have also created works with handbells, actors, and electronics. In the future, Vavich would love to create more music that blurs the lines between classical and popular, in addition to creating explicitly queer works.

In 2022 Alice Codieck of the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Nacogdoches, TX commissioned Vavich to write a solo handbell and piano arrangement of a traditional hymn. The resulting work “The King Shall Come” was performed twice that same year: It was premiered at FUMC by Codieck and pianist Andrew Par and then performed at Vavich’s senior recital, this time by Codieck and Vavich. That same year Vavich also collaborated with actor Maggie Jordan to write Beyond the Grave, a work for actor and piano that tells a story through four poems by Thomas Hardy. It was premiered shortly after its creation at the show Stories of Fantasy and Tragedy in Nacogdoches by Jordan and Vavich, then subsequently performed by the pair at Vavich's senior recital.

As a pianist, Vavich has experience in solo performance, jazz band, and collaborative piano. He has helped to premiere many newly composed chamber and choral works, including larger chamber works such as one written for Pierrot ensemble. Vavich was also the pianist for the Alvin Community College Jazz Band for two and a half years and their band played in both the 2017 and 2018 Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Consortium (GCIC) jazz festivals. In his role as a collaborative pianist, Vavich has played for the funeral services of Catholic and Baptist churches and accompanied solo vocalists in both classical and jazz works.

Vavich got their BA in Composition at Stephen F Austin State University studying with composers Dr Stephen Lias and Robert J Coe. Previously, they studied composition independently with Dr Chad Robinson for two years, founder of the non-profit Texas New Music Ensemble (TNME), which Vavich also worked for during their studies. Vavich also got his AA in Piano Performance at Alvin Community College studying with composer and jazz pianist Dr Stephen Termini and pianist Carol Holst.

Eclipse

Art Vavich

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