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The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Schuessler selected as commissioned composer

    Instructor of Theory and Composition Dr. Phillip Schuessler sits at his piano, which he calls “his main instrument.” Schuessler is the commissioned composer for the Louisiana Music Teachers Association. Brianna Hawkins/The Lion’s Roar

    Instructor of Theory and Composition Dr. Phillip Schuessler has been selected as the 2017 commissioned composer for the Louisiana Music Teachers Association. 

    LMTA is an organization of music teachers that presents papers on music education and certification. The person who is selected as the commissioned composer receives a grant to help produce their work. 

    The piece Schuessler came up with was “Sunburst Carousel.” The first performance of the piece was at the University of New Orleans on Oct. 13 performed by the saxophone quartet “Quartetto Obrigado.”

    “The resident space was nice,” said Schuessler. “It was a high energy kind of piece played with a lot of enthusiasm.”

     The new piece was also performed Oct. 16 at the free Faculty Showcase concert in Pottle Music Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on campus.

    “I knew what I wanted to write and who I wanted to write for,” said Schuessler. “It’s very rewarding. It’s always rewarding when you get some kind of recognition for your art.”

    When he discussed the inspiration behind the creation of “Sunburst Carousel,” he said that it all goes back to his 18-month-old son and how he looks at the world around him, which he describes as “extremely vivacious in every waking moment.”

    When composing new music, Schuessler thinks of different instruments such as the cello, bass, clarinet and percussion instruments, but there is only one place where he composes. 

    “Piano is my main instrument,” said Schuessler. “I compose near the piano.”

    Schuessler described his curiosity in music and that he wanted to be a composer at first.

    “It started with me having a general curiosity about music, and that generously led me to learn about music,” said Schuessler. “I thought the best way to learn about music is to teach it. I found the more I did it, the more I enjoyed it, and it became a fulfilling experience.”

    Schuessler believes that his curiosity for music sparked when he was a child in his mother’s car. 

    “The songs I listened to in the car with my mother were soft rock from the ‘70s or the ‘80s,” Schuessler said. “I also like American folk music.”

    Schuessler who is from Birmingham, Alabama graduated from Birmingham-Southern College and has also studied music in Miami and New York. He feels that a fusion of different cultures make Louisiana culture special.

    “I have a particular affinity with Southeastern, and I feel at home,” said Schuessler.

    Schuessler shared some advice for anyone who is interested in composing music.

    “If they want to be a composer, they need to do it for the right reasons,” said Schuessler. “Earning rewards and recognitions shouldn’t be the goal. Rewards are not guaranteed. When dry spells come, you have to rely on yourself and be self-motivated.”

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