Ramin Arjomand

composer performer educator

education

Columbia University

D.M.A. in Composition, 2006

Duke University

B.A. in Music, French, cum laude, 1993

distinguished teachers

Composition

with Jonathan Kramer, Fred Lerdahl, Tristan Murail, Gheorghe Costinescu

Conducting

with Harold Farberman

Piano

with Jane Hawkins

Tombak

with Pejman Hadadi

awards

First Prize, New York Virtuoso Singers Choral Composition Competition, 2007

for Alma Redemptoris mater

Boris and Eda Rapaport Prize, 1997

for Composition for Six Players

Columbia University Mellon Fellowship, 1996-2004

teaching interests

list of compositions

concert works

Welcome to the Garden (2010), for 11 voices, violin, clarinet, and percussion

Child of Sea (2009), for string quartet

Alma Redemptoris mater (2005), for 12-part a cappella choir

Premiered October 28, 2007 St. Ignatius Episcopal Church, New York City
New York Virtuoso Singers
Harold Rosenbaum, conductor

Verses (2003), for solo violoncello

Premiered October 18, 2003 Tenri Cultural Institute, New York City
Rubin Kodheli, violoncello

Parables (2003), for percussion quartet

Premiered April 12, 2003 Casa Italiana, Columbia University
So Percussion Ensemble

Sayings (2001), for piccolo, english horn, violin, horn, double bass

Premiered April 30, 2001 Miller Theatre, New York City
Speculum Musicae
Ramin Arjomand, conductor

Salve regina (2001), for four voices

Premiered April 28, 2001 St. Paul's Chapel, Columbia University
Columbia University Collegium Musicum
Ramin Arjomand, conductor

Cornelia Street Variations (2001), for solo piano

Premiered August 21, 2000 Cornelia Street Café, New York City
Cornelia Street Café Contemporary Classical Series
Ramin Arjomand, piano

let op! drempels (2000), for string quartet

Premiered February 20, 2000 Miller Theatre, New York City
Sebu Sirian, violin
Lisa Lipton, violin
Liuh-Wen Ting, viola
Wolfram Koessel, cello

Apology (1999), for flute, trumpet, violin, voice

Premiered April 18, 1999 Miller Theatre, New York City
Ulla Suokko, flute
Barak Dunayer, trumpet
Maja Cerar, violin
Ramin Arjomand, voice

Orange (1998), for four voices, clarinet, trumpet, violin, viola, guitar, piano

Premiered October 4, 1998 Miller Theatre, New York City
Margaret Bell, voice
Silvie Jensen, voice
Eric Rice, voice
William Atkinson, voice
J.D. Hixson, clarinet
David Krauss, trumpet
Maja Cerar, violin
Carl Voss, viola
Rihan Yeh, guitar
Marcus Bittencourt, piano
Ramin Arjomand, conductor

Chimneys (1998), for guitar, viola, piano, tombak, voices

Premiered April 26, 1998 Miller Theatre, New York City
Rihan Yeh, guitar, voice
Alicia Rabins, viola, voice
Ramin Arjomand, piano, tombak, voice

Composition for Six Players (1997), for piccolo, trumpet, horn, violin, double bass, percussion

Performed April 27, 1997 Ayers Studios, New York City
Speculum Musicae

Music for Five Woodwinds (1997), for flute, oboe, clarinet, english horn, bassoon

Premiered April 20, 1997 Miller Theatre, New York City
Bart Feller, flute
Robert Ingliss, oboe
Melanie Feld, english horn
Steve Williamson, clarinet
Michael Green, bassoon

Aquarelles (1997), for solo harpsichord

Premiered March 21, 1997 Paul Recital Hall, The Juilliard School
Akiko Ueno, harpsichord

Three Drawings (1996), for soprano voice, trumpet

Premiered February 21, 1996 Borden Auditorium, Manhattan School of Music
Christine Schadeberg, soprano
Jack Sutte, trumpet

Portrait (1996), for oboe, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, viola, double bass

Performed April 21, 1996 Columbia University
Speculum Musicae

Triptych (1995), for solo piano

Premiered October 29, 1995 Miller Theatre, New York City
Ramin Arjomand, piano

Variations (1995), for string trio

electroacoustic works

Ode (2010)

piano

Conference of the Birds (2007)

piano, bamboo flutes, whistle, percussion, voice

Fall (2007)

bamboo flutes, percussion, three voices

Song for the Lily (2007)

piano, bamboo flute, percussion, voice

Kings (Barcarolle) (2004)

two pianos

Ethans (2004)

two pianos

Eydetun mobarak (2002)

piano, saxophone, guitar, percussion

Cecil (2002)

piano, guitar, percussion

Flower (2002)

voice, piano, percussion

Fight Song (2001)

percussion

2'11" (2001)

four voices

Wedding March (2001)

violin, saxophone, piano, percussion

Avaz 070100 (2000)

five voices

Mornings (1999)

violin, saxophone, percussion

Five (1999)

four voices

2'10" (1999)

voices, percussion

music theater works

Five (1997), for nine moving musicians

Premiered November 23, 1997 Miller Theatre, New York City
Ramin Arjomand, percussion, voice
Christopher Bailey, percussion, voice
Marcus Bittencourt, piano, voice
Douglas Geers, percussion, piano, voice
David Birchfield, voice
Rihan Yeh, guitar, voice
Carl Voss, viola, voice
Daniel Thompson, trumpet
Duncan Neilson, voice

Rainy Day (1996), for seven voices, percussion

Premiered November 24, 1996 Miller Theatre, New York City
Ramin Arjomand, voice, percussion
Emily Kaiser, voice
Sophia Serghi, voice
Christopher Bailey, voice, percussion
Duncan Neilson, voice, percussion
Marcus Bittencourt, voice, percussion
Douglas Geers, voice

dance theater works

like arrows in the hand of a warrior, daybreak (2004), for 13 dancers, piano

music by Ramin Arjomand
movement by Laveen Naidu
Premiered November 18, 2004 Miller Theatre, New York City
Adrina Devitre, Eva Grzesik, Lianna Heidt, Madeline Hollander, Elise King, Elizabeth Case, Brandi Marsh, Meghan Meade, Katherine Nyce, Natalie Rowles, Shinko Toku, Melanie Tolan, Elena Williams, dancers

Games (2000), for 2 dancers, piano, tombak, voices

music by Ramin Arjomand
movement by Tessa Chandler and Ramin Arjomand
Premiered October 20, 2000 Miller Theatre, New York City
Ramin Arjomand, dancer, piano, tombak, voice
Tessa Chandler, dancer, piano, voice

Motet (The Sea) (2000), for 1 dancer, flute, guitar, tambourine

music by Ramin Arjomand
movement by Tessa Chandler
Premiered November 17, 2000 Minor Latham Playhouse, Barnard College
Robin Yerkes, flute
David Anderson, guitar
Ramin Arjomand, tambourine
Tessa Chandler, dancer

Form (1998), for 3 dancers, flute, violin, tombak, voices

music and concept by Ramin Arjomand
movement by Tessa Chandler and Angie Frederickson
Premiered December 10, 1998 Minor Latham Playhouse, Barnard College
Robin Yerkes, flute
Katrin Stamatis, violin
Ramin Arjomand, tombak, voice
Tessa Chandler, dancer, voice
Angie Frederickson, dancer, voice
Micah Arsham, dancer, voice

That you were once unkind (1997), for 2 dancers, piano

music and movement by Ramin Arjomand
Premiered Fall 1997 Streng Studio, Barnard College
Ramin Arjomand, dancer
Kara Regan, dancer
Ethan Iverson, piano

conducting experience

contemporary music

Ramin Arjomand, Sayings, for piccolo, english horn, violin, horn, double bass

Performed April 30, 2001 Miller Theatre, New York City

Melanie Schoenberg, Anthem, for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano

Performed October 29, 2000 Philosophy Hall, Columbia University

Jason Freeman, Pantoum, for clarinet, trombone, violin, voila, violoncello

Performed December 3, 2000 Philosophy Hall, Columbia University

Sang-Eun Lee, Fantasy, for flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello, piano

Performed April 18, 1999 Miller Theatre, New York City

Miyuko Ito, Sparkling for a little while, for saxophone, horn, trombone, violoncello, percussion

Performed October 4, 1998 Miller Theatre, New York City

Ramin Arjomand, Orange, for four voices, clarinet, trumpet, violin, viola, guitar, piano

Performed October 4, 1998 Miller Theatre, New York City

Marcelo Toledo, Pulso Herido, for flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, piano

Performed October 12, 1997 Miller Theatre, New York City

Miyuki Ito, The Roar of the Sea, for clarinet, bassoon, oboe, double bass, percussion

Performed October 12, 1997 Miller Theatre, New York City

early music

Columbia University Collegium Musicum April 28, 2001 St. Paul's Chapel, Columbia University

Byrd, Non nobis Domine
Josquin, Rubum quem viderat
Palestrina, Veni sancte spiritus
Lassus, Domine fac mecum
Lassus, Cantiones duarum vocum
Ockeghem, Salve Regina
Palestrina, Salve Regina
Josquin, Salve Regina

Columbia University Collegium Musicum December 16, 2001 St. Paul's Chapel, Columbia University

Compère, O bone Jesu
Obrecht, Beata es Maria
Obrecht, Ave maris stella
Palestrina, Tu es pastor ovium
Isaac, Credo
Josquin, Christum ducem
Anonymous, Salve Regina
Compère, Ave Maria

Columbia University Collegium Musicum April 29, 2000 St. Paul's Chapel, Columbia University

Walther, Magnificat Tertii Toni
Schütz, Die mit Tränen Säen
Praetorius, Komm heiliger Geist, Herre Gott à 4,
Praetorius, Du heilige Brunst, süßer Trost à 5
Ockeghem, Alma Redemptoris mater
Praetorius, Der Tag der ist so freudenreich
Praetorius, Christ lag in Todesbanden à 3
Praetorius, Christ lag in Todesbanden à 5
Ockeghem, Vivit Dominus
Schütz, Johannes-Passion

Columbia University Collegium Musicum December 10, 1999 St. Paul's Chapel, Columbia University

Praetorius, O lux beata trinitas
Incerti, Das alte Jahr vergangen ist
Praetorius, Komm heiliger Geist, Herre Gott à 2
Praetorius, Komm heiliger Geist, Herre Gott à 4
Praetorius, Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund à 2
Walther, Gelobet seist du Jesu Christ
Praetorius, Komm Gott Schöpfer heiliger Geist à 4
Walther, Komm Gott Schöpfer heiliger Geist
Praetorius, Christ der du bist Tag und Licht à 2
Praetorius, Christ der du bist Tag und Licht à 3
Praetorius, Christe, qui lux es et dies

other performance experience

piano solo

April 10, 2010 - solo piano concert

Improvisations
Dodge Hall, Columbia University

November 30, 2009 - solo piano concert

Improvisations for Our Time
Philosophy Hall, Columbia University

December 7, 2005 - Raspberries (improvisation), piano solo

Jonathan Kramer Memorial Concert
Miller Theatre, New York City

October 16, 2004 - Rêveries (improvisation), piano solo

Columbia Composers Concert
Tenri Cultural Institute, New York City

May 4, 2003 - improvisation, piano solo

Columbia Composers Concert
Tenri Cultural Institute, New York City

March 3, 2002 - improvisation, piano solo

Columbia Composers Concert
Philosophy Hall, Columbia University

August 21, 2000 - improvisation, piano solo

Cornelia Street Café Contemporary Classical Series
Cornelia Street Café, New York City

April 2, 2000 - improvisation, piano solo

Columbia Composers Concert
Sulzberger Parlor, Barnard College

dance theater

May 5, 2001 - fully-staged performance of Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat

choreography and staging by Tessa Chandler
Premiered at Casa Italiana, Columbia University, New York City
Ramin Arjomand, narrator, dancer
Kara Golux, dancer
Hiroya Miura, conductor

teaching experience

Diatonic Harmony and Counterpoint

classes of 10-20 students, also individual discussion sections of 4-8 students; scales, intervals; principles of melody; two- and three-voice species counterpoint; free modal counterpoint; harmony, voice leading; figured bass; tonal form, harmonic vs. contrapuntal progressions, modulation; basic composition; analysis; singing, dictation, and keyboard playing integrated into class work; structural hearing; demonstration of concepts at piano, reading of student work at piano

Chromatic Harmony and Counterpoint

classes of 5-20 students; chromatic harmony and voice leading techniques; modulation; chromatic tonal areas; composition; realization and performance of Bach figured-bass chorales; tonal form vs. contrapuntal form; canon, fugue, atonality, twelve-tone form; basic contrapuntal composition; basic twelve-tone composition; analysis; singing, dictation, and keyboard playing integrated into class work; demonstration of concepts at piano, reading of student work at piano

Director of Collegium Musicum

Director of a cappella early music choir with size varying from 12 to 24 singers, also small ensembles of 2 to 10 singers; responsible for musicological research and programming of repertory, booking of performance venue, all publicity, auditioning singers, scheduling and conducting rehearsals and performances, training singers, developing sight-singing, ear-training and ensemble singing skills

Ear Training

classes of 8-12 students; melodic, harmonic, rhythmic development; dictation, sight-singing, basic rhythmic and melodic composition

Music Humanities

Instructor for classes of 20-24 students; gave lectures and led discussions on selected masterworks of Western music from the Middle Ages to the present; frequent demonstrations of concepts at the piano

Private Instructor of Composition, Piano, Theory, Ear Training

students of age 7 and higher, all levels of ability and experience

dance theater experience

Musician of Dance Composition Courses

• with Janet Soares at the Barnard College Department of Dance; lectured on Music for Dance, worked toward developing an awareness of compositional form, relationships between sound and movement, and boundaries separating dance and theatre
• with Pearl Lang at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance

Accompanist for Modern, Classical Dance Technique Classes

• at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance playing for all levels of Graham technique
• at the Barnard College Department of Dance playing for classes in Modern, Ballet, Graham and Humphrey/Limon techniques

Dance Composition

• with Janet Soares; studied history of choreography, making dances, choreographed movement and composed sound scores of own works

Modern Dance Technique

• basic modern dance technique with Neta Pulvermacher

essays

"On Contrapuntal Practice" (2005)

computer experience

DigiDesign ProTools, Logic Pro

studio recording and digital editing

MOTU Digital Performer, Logic Pro

MIDI

Finale, Sibelius

music notation

HTML, CSS

web design

other experience

Co-Director of Columbia Composers

responsible for all aspects of the concert season of Columbia graduate student works, including organizing budget, programming of works, hiring of players, scheduling rehearsals, booking halls, publicity, stage setup, payments

Co-Founder of the Columbia New Music Ensemble

an ensemble of graduate and undergraduate students at Columbia dedicated to performing new works composed by and for the members themselves

languages

English, French, German, Persian