Jay C. Batzner (b. 1974) is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida where he teaches music composition and technology courses as well as coordinates the composition program. In his first year, Jay received two prestigious grants: one to create collaborative works with visual artist Carla Poindexter and the second to initiate electroacoustic music concerts in Orlando. Prior to this position, Jay was an active adjunct professor at several colleges in the Kansas City area while he completed his D.M.A. in Composition at the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory. While at UMKC, Jay received honors including a Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship and a Dean's Doctoral Scholar Fellowship.
Jay's music ranges from instrumental chamber works to electroacoustic compositions. He has participated in numerous national and international festivals including the Wellesley Composers Conference and the International Young Composers' Meeting in the Netherlands. His music is published by Unsafe Bull Music and has been recorded on the Capstone and Vox Novus labels. Jay is a frequent contributor to the new music website Sequenza21.com and a founding member of the composers organization The Collected.
Jay is a sci-fi geek, an amateur banjoist, a home brewer, and juggler.
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3/17/2008
Plans within plans
Well, last week qualifies as one of the Worst Weeks Ever, but I'm getting out of it. Some things get better on their own, others you have to grab and shake until they turn positive. This is me grabbing and shaking.
I had a successful recital earlier this month and you can hear a recording of Throb for marimba duo on my website. The bigger news is the acceptance of Carnival Daring-Do, the video collaboration with Carla Poindexter, to the Palm Beach International and Fresno Film Festivals. We have also made it to the final round of the High Falls Film Festival, with this interesting tidbit:
"There was an interesting split among our viewers. Some complained that the sound was unpleasant, harsh, and annoying. Others liked the music and sound effects and felt that both fit the film well."
While I would never shun universal support, I always like it when my music is more...divisive? I've been a polarizer in other music settings, always unintentionally, and I have to admit that it makes me smile. I remember showing the same piece to 4 composers at a series of master classes. Two liked it quite a bit, two thought it was absolute garbage. Another time, the deliberations for a contest (done after a concert of the competing works) went on unusually long. I found out later that my piece was the culprit. Some supported it strongly, others dismissed it. I ended up with nothing but knowing I had caused a small scandal.
It fits my personality, I think, to be in that position. I like doing what I do and I never intend to shock or cause controversy. Sometimes my stuff makes people react. That is all I want: honest reaction. Positive, negative, I have no control over that.
posted by Jay C. Batzner
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