Oct 11
On the Road to Houghton
October brought Joan and I to Houghton University in western New York, to attend the annual conference of the Christian Fellowship of Art...
Jul 31
News and Updates - July 2024
A New Work for Clarinet Clarinetist Stacy Smith, a member of the instrumental faculty at Xavier University and I are embarking on a new...
May 7
Performances in Cincinnati
I am working to find more opportunities to present my music locally, here in Cincinnati. Here are a couple of examples…… My dear friend...
May 7
NEW NEWS!
Borrowing a phrase from the Kelce brothers, here are some new and interesting developments…. Come, Beloved of the Maker has been accepted...
Nov 4, 2023
Measure for Measure comes to Heidelberg November 9 – 11, 2023
One of William Shakespeare’s famous “problem plays” is about to receive a unique treatment. On November 9-11, 2023, the Heidelberg...
Sep 11, 2023
Langston’s Lot at Stone Soup: a Look from the Inside September 8-10, 2023
The next major step in my CD project took place in September, as Langston’s Lot was recorded at Stone Soup Studios, in Maumee Ohio. Mark...
Aug 30, 2023
On to Birmingham: Langston’s Lot is ready for a recording date!
From left: Roderick George, tenor; Jackie Edwards Henry, piano; Gail Levinsky, alto saxophone Stage two of my upcoming CD release took...
Jul 30, 2023
Back to Wyoming: Recording Session, Part One
After months of planning, my CD recording project is off and running! In early July, I travelled to Laramie, Wyoming with Mark Bunce, my...
Jun 22, 2023
A World Premiere Performance in Minnesota
June brought the first event of what promises to be a very busy summer for my composition work. On June 21-23, I attended a music...
Apr 9, 2023
Songs of Celebration Comes to Cincinnati
Songs of Celebration, a three-movement work that commemorates the Easter and Pentecost seasons, will have its Cincinnati premiere on...
Nov 17, 2022
Music at Kenwood: Joan McConnell, Organ Recital
For those of you who are in the greater Cincinnati area: Joan and I would like to invite you to Joan’s solo recital, the first one she...
Jul 22, 2022
Professor Emeritus Honor
Hey, I made the cut! Heidelberg University has provided me with a new title: Professor Emeritus of Composition and Music. The honor was...
Jan 31, 2022
Eurydice Opens at Heidelberg February 11
Work continues on the Heidelberg production of Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl, directed by my good friend and colleague, David Cotter. The cast...
Nov 9, 2021
Redefining a Classic Story
Jean Raoux, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Even in retirement, I intend to continue my work as a composer. Coming in February 2022:...
Oct 4, 2021
The Teasdale Project Expands…..
Two years, ago, soprano Carol Dusdieker and I began a long-term project; to develop a body of song based on the poetry of Sara Teasdale....
Oct 3, 2021
Making Music with “The Dream Team”
From left: John Fidial, Chi-Chen Wu, Josh Heaney, Seth Innis, Gail Levinsky, Cynthia Ramsdell, Jackie Edwards Henry, Doug, Carol...
Oct 3, 2021
Heidelberg Retirement Recital | Program Notes: October 3, 2021
Program Notes Doug McConnell, composer October 3, 2021 Video Connection: Heidelberg School of Music and Theatre Facebook Pablo’s Waltz...
Oct 2, 2021
The Helios Trio takes on While I Run This Race
The Helios Trio: John Fidial, violin, Beth Vanderborgh, cello, and Chi-Chen Wu, piano, after a very successful Heidelberg recital....
Jul 7, 2020
" I Can't Breathe........"
You know the story if you live in this country. On May 25, 2020, a Minneapolis police officer ended the life of George Floyd during an...
Jul 7, 2020
The Teasdale Project
For many years, I have read and enjoyed the poetry of Sara Teasdale. Her overall style is most lyric, one that lends itself to musical...
Mar 1, 2020
Opening the Lockless Door......
Heidelberg graduate Ben Lupo wanted to commission a choral work for his a cappella choir at Bryan High School in Bryan, Ohio. Ben was one...
Oct 11, 2019
An Evening of Greek Theater
One play explores the depths of darkness and tragedy. The other playfully undermines our expectations of love and war. To create music...
May 20, 2019
Music to honor Bob.......
When Joan and I first arrived in Tiffin in the summer of 2000, Bob and Donna Overholt became two of our newest friends. They welcomed us...
Mar 23, 2019
A New Evening with Langston Hughes
Almost 20 years after Langston’s Lot, my first song cycle on the poetry of Langston Hughes, my dear friends and colleagues Gail Levinsky...
Mar 2, 2019
Meeting old friends at Fisk University
With Organist Tony Williams, after the concert My association with the Southeastern Composers Forum goes back to 1990, when I was a new...
Feb 2, 2019
A Curious Collaboration!
I have always enjoyed my time in theatre, either as a music director or as a composer. During my years at Heidelberg. I have worked with...
May 27, 2018
200th Anniversary Concert
Joan was invited by Pastor Don Loving, of Milan Presbyterian Church, in Milan, Ohio, to give an organ recital in honor of the...
May 24, 2018
Oboes in Wisconsin
Doug, Melissa, Allison It was an honor to have my Four States of Mind, for oboe and piano presented at the annual conference of the...
Apr 16, 2017
A Simple Collaboration - live!
After months of simple rehearsals, Bill Reyer and I gave our Palm Sunday vocal program, an evening of favorite songs, selected and...
Apr 16, 2017
Joan plays on the road....
Joan and I would like to thank the congregation of Trinity Presbyterian Church, in Kenton Ohio, for inviting Joan to present a solo organ...
Apr 14, 2017
The Applebaums in Ohio
Liesl and John Hunnemann (both Berg grads,) Mark and Bob Applebaum, Joan and Doug Well, it took about 17 years of dreaming, but it...
Mar 11, 2017
Langston at NASA
My thanks and gratitude to friends and colleagues Jos Milton, tenor, Adam Estes, saxophone and Stacy Rodgers, piano for a wonderful...
Mar 4, 2017
Oboes in Oklahoma
I'm not sure, but my music may have made its Oklahoma debut last night, thanks to the efforts of a good friend and colleague. Melissa...
Feb 23, 2017
Langston returns to Mississippi
More than 20 years ago, I was asked to write a new composition for tenor voice, alto saxophone and piano by Gail Levinsky and Jackie...
Nov 6, 2016
A great day for my student!
I'm very proud of my composition student, Caleb Adams, who made a very successful presentation of his multi-media work, War Over Hill, at...
Nov 1, 2016
A Very Special Occasion
Saturday, October 22nd was a highly significant day for one of my dearest friends, Jodi Nicholson Keith, who was accepted into the...
Nov 1, 2016
A Simple Collaboration
The project started out so simply. I read a brief and humorous poem, by my good friend and colleague, Dr. William Reyer. Part of it is...
Aug 21, 2016
Langston's Lot: Song is a Strong Thing
Summers are for fun, relaxation, and special rehearsals! I am using the summer months to complete my latest song-cycle, Langston’s Lot:...
May 2, 2016
Langston Hughes
There is something about the poetry of Langston Hughes that makes me want to write for voice! The simplicity and directness of the...
Feb 2, 2016
Heidelberg Theater: Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Last fall, Heidelberg Theater Director Chris Tucci and I discussed a possible collaboration for a non-traditional presentation of...
Jul 2, 2015
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA)
It has been much too long since I last had a chance to really “get away” to do some serious writing! My last sabbatical from school was...
May 2, 2015
Joan McConnell performed at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Joan and I enjoyed a couple of days at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Joan presented a noon-time...
