Dennis Janzer is an award-winning composer attaining a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Miami and holds other degrees, one as diverse as a Master of Science in Bio-medical Engineering from Marquette University, leading to a 10 year position as a Research Scientist in Cardiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Theory-Composition from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He taught at the University of Miami, Florida International University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Rhodes College, Memphis, TN. Active as a composer, teacher and performer, Dennis is Organist Emeritus at St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Memphis, TN.
The American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) has honored and acknowledged the activity generated by Janzer 's published compositions by awarding him an ASCAP Plus Award annually since 1996. In determining the presentation of this award, particular emphasis is placed on recent performances, including, but not limited to, student recitals and performances at educational institutions, churches, and non-profit programming or community concerts.
As composer and performer, Dennis has had the privilege of sharing music in a great variety of ways including churches, theaters and concert venues. Please note the listing of published compositions above. His organ compositions are regularly played at church services, recitals and concerts and his numerous educational-pedagogical works are published in organ instruction volumes. It is the involvement in education, from teaching private music students, ranging from Kindergarten through College, to composing music included in pedagogical organ-teaching methods that is most important to him and the inspiration to new organists that is treasured most. "The First Organ Book" that is used at all of the American Guild of Organist's Pipe Organ Encounters (POE) held each summer include his "must-play" compositions at every POE.
PERFORMANCES:
Dennis has performed on numorous concerts sponsored by the American Guild of
Organists, churches and universities. Dennis premiered his
South of the Border
organ demonstrator composition for narrator and organ at the Irish and
Cultural Heritage Center of Wisconsin. The work is published by Leupold
Editions, as are most of his organ compositions. Dennis was Organ
Curator for the Irish Cultural Heritage Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and returns to present concerts as a featured soloist on their pipe
organ. He performed at the Organ Historical Society's 40th Annual
National Convention playing original compositions. His organ music and
arrangements are included in numerous teaching volumes, and are used at
the American Guild of Organists' "Pipe Organ Encounters," an organists'
out-reach program held annually throughout the US.
HONORS and AWARDS:
A
recipient of annual ASCAP awards, (American Society of Composers), his
many published organ, choral, and instrumental compositions are performed at churches and concert venues. Symphonic compositions have won awards and been commissioned and performed by the
Milwaukee and Waukesha Symphony Orchestras. His composition Duologue
for trumpet and organ won the First Place Award of the International
Trumpet Guild's Composition Contest. A commissioned brass and organ
composition, La Fete
Triomphale
, was premiered
with the Milwaukee Symphony at the rededication of the Basilica of St.
Josaphat, Milwaukee, WI. (Both available from LEUPOLD ED.)
His first organ concerto was premiered with the symphony from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee under the direction of Margery Deutsch:
Music
of our Sphere, where Dennis taught from 1990-2000. Dr. Janzer has since been adjunct faculty for the University of Miami and Florida International University.
EDUCATION
Doctor
of Musical Arts
-
Composition, University of Miami
Master
of Music
-
Theory and Composition, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Bachelor of Fine
Arts
- Music Theory and Composition, University of
Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Master of Science
-
Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bachelor of Science
- Biology, Marquette University, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
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