Blake Henson has been praised for his music that Gramophone Magazine says "moves from soothing sentiments to more exultant territory with exceptional harmonic vibrancy; it casts a spell that must be even more thrilling when heard in live performance," and the New Jersey Star-Ledger called "powerful and thoughtful at the same time." Born in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Henson currently resides in De Pere, Wisconsin where he serves as Assistant Professor of Music at St. Norbert College. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music theory and composition from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, as well as the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in composition from The Ohio State University. He has studied composition with Thomas Wells, Donald Harris, Joel Phillips, Jay Kawarsky, Ron Hemmel, Michael Cox, and John Parker and has collaborated with such noted composers as Mark Adamo, Stephen Paulus, Tarik O'Regan, and Gerald Custer. Sought after for his choral, vocal, and orchestral work, Dr. Henson has received numerous commissions from colleges and high schools, churches, community choruses and orchestras, and professional ensembles, including Chanticleer, Westminster Choir, Kantorei, Williamson Voices, Anam Cara, Masterwork Chorus and Orchestra, The Thomas Circle Singers, and the New Jersey Chamber Singers. His music has been performed in some of the finest venues in the United States including Carnegie Hall, The National Cathedral, and Spivey Hall; as well as in concert halls in Canada, Mexico, England, South Africa, Taiwan, Australia, and Japan. His choral works have been performed at ACDA National Conventions as well as by numerous All-State choirs. Dr. Henson's work as a composer and teacher has awarded him multiple distinctions and recognitions including a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his choral-orchestral work "The Good Fence" (an unstaged drama written in response to the terrorist acts on September 11th, 2001), Ars Nova's Artist of the Year award, and the Alumni Merit Award from his alma mater Westminster Choir College (which he received at age twenty-six), as well as the Hoke Church Music Award, Dr. Carl F. Mueller Composition Award, York Composition Award, Lynn Memorial Composition Award, and first prize in the Chanticleer Composition Competition. As a performer, Dr. Henson has appeared with the Westminster Choir, Westminster Kantorei, Fuma Sacra, the New York Philharmonic (Davis, Dutoit, Maazel, Gilbert, Alsop, Hickox), the Cleveland Orchestra (Boulez), the New Jersey Symphony (Labadie, Jarvi), Dresden Philharmonic (Fruhbeck de Burgos), Fort Worth Symphony (Giordano, Harth-Bedoya), and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (Litton) and has collaborated with such noted conductors as Joseph Flummerfelt, Charles Bruffy, Weston Noble, Bruce Chamberlain, Dennis Shrock, Andrew Megill, James Jordan, and Emmanuell Villaume. Henson is a member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Society for Music Theory (SMT), Society of Composers, Inc. (SCI), and the American Society for Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP); he is also a volunteer for the American Cancer Society. Dr. Henson is published by GIA Music. |
Published exclusively by: Other octavos by Blake R. Henson are available by these publishers:
Dream of Heaven, a gift to Dr. Michael Knight and the St. Norbert College Wind Ensemble, marks the first of a handful of works composed for concert band. Meanwhile, I am continually inspired by the stories artists take the time to share with me regarding how My Flight for Heaven has made an impact on their lives. "Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily..." Although there may be a small wait-list, I am currently accepting commissions for new musical works. Interested performers and ensembles can reach me via the information provided on the contact page. |
