Index of University Press Releases

Nov. 16, 2007

Barnard to serve as composer in residence

MITCHELL – Dan Barnard recently began his duties as assistant professor and composer in residence at DWU.

“I am very pleased that we have been able to get a professor of Dan’s quality to work with the music students. The energy he has brought to campus and the level of his expertise is great,” said Don Watt, vice president for academic affairs and academic dean. “The work planned for this spring will give Wesleyan students the opportunity to work with a composer as he creates a choral piece for them to premiere.”

Barnard is an award-winning composer, conductor and presenter of the arts. His 17-year teaching career includes positions at Western Nebraska Community College and Penn State Erie, where he was awarded the Phi Theta Kappa Excellence in Teaching award and Behrend College Center for Service’s Leadership award, respectively.

Barnard’s compositions have won national competitions sponsored by Mt. Union College, Ithaca College and Northern Arizona University. His most recent project, “Requiem for a Sailor,” received national attention while still in progress by being selected as one of five works to be recorded by the St. Paul-based Vocal Essence choir under the direction of Philip Brunelle.

As director of the “Music at Noon” concert series at Penn State Erie, Barnard developed a national reputation as an arts presenter. He won the 2005 ASCAP/CMA Award for Adventurous Programming, and he was selected to appear as a panelist at national conferences of Chamber Music America and the Association of Performing Arts Presenters.

Barnard holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music degree in theory and composition from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance from West Texas State University.

For more information about the music program at DWU, visit www.dwu.edu/music.