Jonathan Anderson

Jonathan Anderson

Associate Professor, Composition and Theory

2345 Old Main

313-577-9692

jon.anderson@wayne.edu

Jonathan Anderson

Biography

Jon Anderson’s music has been described as “haunting,” mixing "electronic beats” with a “cocky melange of aggression and tongue-in-cheek humor.” Writing for a variety of music for traditional acoustic ensembles such as orchestra, band, and chamber groups, as well as less traditional ensembles involving interactive computer music, Anderson frequently incorporates physical movement and dance as structural elements. With awards and honors from institutions such as the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, SCI/ASCAP, and the Pierre Schaefer International Competition of Computer Music, his works have been commissioned and performed by orchestras, ensembles, and soloists throughout the world. Anderson teaches music theory and composition at Wayne State University and is the resident composer for the modern dance company Take Root Dance. 

Originally from Minneapolis, MN, Anderson holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition from the University of North Texas (2010) where he studied with Butch Rovan, Cindy McTee, Joseph Klein, and Jon Christopher Nelson; the Master of Music degree in Composition from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2000), where he studied with Eddie Bass and Craig Walsh; and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Luther College (1998), where he studied with John Howell Morrison.

Academic Interests

Upcoming Performances/Events:

Hammer & Nail (premiere), live interactive computer music and dance. Thayer Jonutz, choreographer. Oakland University, April 15, 2022.

Hammer & Nail (excerpt). Oakland University Board of Trustees, Oakland University, April 14, 2022.

Hammer & Nail (excerpt). The Greater Lansing Academy of Dance, Ukranian Benefit Concert. Lansing, MI. April 10, 2022.

Airplanes & Elevators. Young Choreographers Forum. Oakland University Dance, Detroit Country Day School. Beverly Hills, MI.March 28, 2022. 

Now Here (premiere); In Dreams;. piano, percussion, recorded media, music for dance. Take Root Dance Company. Oakland University, March 18-19, 2022.

On Hold, elecronic music for mobile electronics. Electronic Music Ensemble of Wayne State. March 10, 2022.

Extraordinarily Intentional (premiere), music for dance. Take Root Dance company. Andy Community Arts Center. Detroit, MI. November 6, 2021.

SixWord Stories, Bad Motor Scooter. Take Root Dance Company. Andy Community Arts Center. Detroit, MI. November 6, 2021.

SixWord Stories (premiere), music for dance. Take Root Dance Company. OU Ouside the Box at Varner Courtyard, Oakland University. Rochester, MI. May 7-8, 2021.

Ship It (premiere), interactive music for dance. Thayer Jonutz, choreographer. Varner Courtyard, Oakland University. Rochester, MI. April 7, 2021.

Key of Blue (premiere), for soprano and piano. Detroit Songbook's Song Portraits, Detroit Song Collective with CameraMusic. March 11, 2021. https://www.cameramusic.org/songportraits Detroit, MI.

For AJ (premiere), for baritone and piano. Detroit Songbook's Song Portraits, Detroit Song Collective with CameraMusic. March 11, 2021 https://www.cameramusic.org/songportraits Detroit, MI.

Not, but Still (premiere). music for film. Oakland University Dance Theatre and Take Root Dance. Oakland University livestream. Rochester, MI. December 4, 2020.

Fragments (premiere), for Zoom ensemble. Theme & Variations: WSU Composers Concert Livestream. Wayne State University. Detroit, MI. October 28, 2020.

On Your Mark (premiere), for runner and interactive electronics. Faculty Electroacoustic Concert. Schaver Music Recital Hall, Old Main, Wayne State University. Detroit, MI. January 22, 2020.

In Dreams, and other works. Take Root Deconstructed. Green Sky Studios. Detroit, MI. October 11-12, 2019.

Ripples from the Skin We Shed, music for film. Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival. Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Chicago, IL. September 20-21, 2019.

In Dreams, music for voice and electronics. Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research Team fox Detroit Gala. The Henry Hotel, Dearborn, MI. September 21, 2019.

Various Works for piano, viola, computer, and dance. An Evening of Music and Dance, featuring Take Root. The Cube, Max M. and Marjorie Fisher Music Center, Detroit, MI. August 2, 2019.

Various Works. Take Root: Airplanes and Elevators Concert. Varner Hall, Oakland University. Rochester, MI. April 5-6, 2019.

Twitch. Electroacoustic Faculty Concert. Wayne State University. January 18. 2019.

DTE, for guitar and spoken voice, Bridging the Gaps. Oakland University. November 6, 2018.

Airplanes & Elevators and other works. Growing Roots: The Fundraiser. Green Sky Studio. Detroit, MI. October 20, 2018.

DTE, for guitar and spoken voice, Bridging the Gaps. Mott Community College. Flint, MI. October 17, 2018.

DTE, for guitar and spoken voice, Bridging the Gaps. Flint Local 432. Flint, MI. October 13, 2018.

Scatter, for saxophone and Kinect. CS for All Summit. Opening Reception, McGregor Memorial Conference. Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. October 8, 2018.

DTE, for guitar and spoken voice, Bridging the Gaps. Schaver Music Recital Hall, Wayne State University. Detroit, MI. September 21, 2018.

DTE, for guitar and spoken voice, Bridging the Gaps. Oakland University, August 26, 2018.

Airplanes & Elevators, The Yew, Pluck, Beyond the Frame, Ripples From the Skin We ShedAn Evening of Movement and Music, The Cube, Max M. and Marjorie Fisher Music Center, Detroit, MI. July 21, 2018.

Pluck, Detroit Music Weekend. Music Hall. Detroit, MI. June 16, 2018.

Various works, Take Root Dance presents I Have a Story To Tell You. Uferstudios, Studio 1. Berlin, Germany. April 30, 2018.

World Dance Day, Tanz Tangente, Berlin Germany. April 29, 2018.

Hundred Horses, Presidential Inauguration. Oakland University. April 20, 2018.

Various Works, Take Root Dance in I Have a Story to Tell You. Oakland University. Rochester, MN. April 20-21, 2018.

On Hold, electronic music for handheld devices. Onyx Ashanti with the Electronic Music Ensemble of Wayne State (EMEWS). Concert. Schaver Music Recital Hall. Detroit, MI. March 8, 2018.

Hundred Horses, Take Root Dance, Baldwin Center, Pontiac, MI. January 18, 2018.

re:move, for kinect and interactive electronic music. Faculty Electroacoustic Music Concert. Schaver Music Recital Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. January 19, 2018.

Lati. fixed media, electroacoustic music. Composers Concert. Varner Hall, Oakland University. Rochester, MI. October 18, 2017.

Ripples from the Skin We Shed: an underwater dance film. Take Root Dance at Red Bull House of Art. Eastern Market. Detroit, MI. October 14, 2017.

Pluck, Witness, Ink (excerpt), Outside the Frame, music for dance. Take Root Dance at Red Bull House of Art. Eastern Market. Detroit, MI. October 14, 2017.

Ink. Take Root Dance, Jon Anderson, piano. Ann Arbor Dance Works 32nd Annual Season Performance. Betty Pease Studio Theatre. School of Music, Theatre & Dance. University of Michigan. September 26, 2017.

Scatter, Matthew Younglove, saxophone. Strange Beautiful Music 10, New Music Detroit's Annual New Music Marathon. Museum of Contemporary Art of Detroit, September 24, 2017.

Born, Jon Anderson, piano. Take Root Dance. Detroit Dance City Festival. Detroit Film Theatre, Detroit Institue of Arts. August 18, 2017.

Pluck, Take Root Dance Company. (313) to the (514) 4th Annual Choreography Expo. Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Detroit, MI. April 29, 2017.

Scatter, for saxophone and interactive electronics. SEAMUS 2017 National Conference. St Cloud State University. St. Cloud, MN. April 20, 2017.

Apartment 402, live music for dance. Take Root Dance in Apartment 402. Varnier Hall, Oakland University. Rochester, MI. April 21-22, 2017.

Juliet, for orchestra. Love You to Death concert. Dearborn Symphony. Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Dearborn, MI. March 3, 2017.

The "Rush" for New Musical Compositions, presentation with James Mobley. Michigan Music Conference. Grand Rapids, MI. January 21, 2017.

Opulent Virtues. for dancer, toy piano, and live processing. In Pieces: Presence and Objecthood in the Aftermath of Technology, Opening Gallery Reception. Elaine Jacobs Gallery, Wayne State University. Detroit, MI. January 20, 2017.

Scatter. saxophone and kinect. Faculty Electroacoustic Concert. Schaver Music Recital Hall, Wayne State University. Detroit, MI. January 13, 2017.

Just as Cool as You Please, music for dance. 11th Annual Oakland Dance Festival. Oakland University. Rochester, MI. December 1-3, 2016.

On Hold, electronic music for handheld devices. Impromptu: An Informal Composers Concert. Schaver Music Recital Hall. Detroit, MI. November 6, 2016.

Apartment 402 (excerpt), Silent Witness Ceremony, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. West Bloomfield, MI. October 21, 2016.

Blue Rabbit. Macro/Micro Art Biome. Grand on River, Detroit, MI. October 15, 2016.

Apartment 402, Transit, Blue Rabbit, Born. Take Root Dance Company. Fundraiser concert at Red Bull House of Art, Eastern Market. Detroit, MI. October 1, 2016.

Born, Take Root Dance Company. Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival. Ruth Page Theatre. Chicago, IL. September 16-17, 2016.

Pluck, Take Root Dance Company. Detroit Dance City Festival. YMCA Boll Theater. Detroit, MI. August 26, 2016.
Born, Take Root Dance Company. Great Lakes Dance Festival. Oakland University. Rochester, MI. July 13, 2016.

Lati, fixed media electroacoustic music. NYC Electroacoustic Music Festival. Abrons Art Center. New York, NY. June 15, 2016.

Rush, for fixed media and band. Brownstown Middle School Band. James Mobley, conductor. Brownstown, MI. June 13, 2016.

Ink; everything Left; Unorganized Elbows; Opulent Virtues. Take Root Dance Annual Concert. Studio Theatre, Oakland University. Rochester, MI. April 22-23, 2016.

Opulent Virtues, music for dance. Young Choreographers Forum. Varner Studio Theatre, Oakland University. Rochester, MI. April 15,2016.

Hundred Horses, Take Root Dance. Leadership Oakland XXVI Arts and Culture Session. BBAC Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. Birmingham, MI. April 13, 2016.

Scatter, tenor saxophone and interactive electronics. Matthew Younglove, saxophone. Shaver Recital Hall, Wayne State University. Detroit, MI. April 6, 2016.

everything Left of shattered, acoustic version for string bass, viola, piano, and dance. Take Root Dance. 313 to the 212. Music Hall Center for Performing Arts. Detroit, MI. April 2, 2016.

Various works, RE/Dance Group and Take Root. Hamlin Park Fieldhouse Theater. Chicago, IL. March 24-25, 2016.

Ink; everything Left; Unorganized Elbows; Opulent Virtues. Take Root Dance, "Dance America Art 1830-1960" Exhibition Concert. Rivera Court, Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI. March 20, 2016.

Various works, Take Root Dance. Midwest RADFest. Epic Center. Kalamazoo, MI. March 19, 2016.

Scatter, saxophone, interactive electronics (max & kinect). Matt Younglove, saxophone. North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference. Texas Tech University. Lubbock, TX. March 12, 2016.

Lati, fixed media electroacoustic music. 2016 SEAMUS National Conference. Georgia Southern University. Statesboro, GA. February 11, 2016.

And Back Again. Van Dyke Dance Group. Dance Place Reunion Concert. Washington, DC. January 30 & 31, 2016.

Ink; everything Left; Unorganized Elbows; Opulent Virtues. Take Root Dance. Red Bull House of Art at Eastern Market. Detroit, MI. January 9, 2016.

Courses Taught

MUT 1200/1210/2200/2210 Beginning Composition 1-4

MUT 2160 Theory IV

MUT 3200/3210 Intermediate Composition 1-2

MUT 4100/4110 Advanced Composition 1-2

MUT 5280 Interactive Electronic Music

MUT 5800 Advanced Orchestration

MUT 5997 Analytic Techniques

Links

https://vimeo.com/jonanderson

Soundcloud Tracks

https://soundcloud.com/andersonjon/lati

Courses taught by Jonathan Anderson

Fall Term 2024 (future)

Winter Term 2024 (current)

Fall Term 2023

Winter Term 2023

Fall Term 2022

Winter Term 2022

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