Brant Adams

Composer of Laudate pueri and Arranger of Violin Solos for Worship, Cello Solos for Worship, French Horn Solos for Worship and Oboe Soloes for Worship

November 4, 2015

Originally from Gallipolis, Ohio, Brant Adams holds a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from Capital University, a master of music degree in music theory from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Ph.D. in theory from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied composition with Donald Grantham. He taught at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and since 1987 at Oklahoma State University, where he currently serves as department head, professor and coordinator of the theory/composition area, coordinator of music business and academic adviser.

In 1992, Dr. Adams was awarded the Distinguished Composer of the Year Award by the Music Teachers National Association for his Masque and Bacchanalia for woodwind quintet and piano. In 1994, he wrote the incidental music for the off-Broadway play Exchange produced at the Soho Repertory Theatre in New York City. In 2000, he arranged and orchestrated Sing for the Cure, a compilation of choral compositions of ten composers from around the US commissioned by the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and which has been performed in dozens of cities across the country. Recent new works include Heartland Trilogy for orchestra and Sing Oklahoma! for mixed choir with children's chorus and Metropolitan Opera star Leona Mitchell. Both works were commissioned for the Oklahoma centennial celebration in 2007.

His compositions, arrangements, and orchestrations have been performed and recorded around the world by orchestras and choral ensembles in England, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Argentina, the Czech Republic, the Middle East, and across the United States. His choral compositions are published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing, and Mark Foster Music (Shawnee Press). He is widely known for his orchestrations and instrumental arrangements of sacred music which are published by the Lorenz Corporation, Shawnee Press, Alfred Music, and Southern Music. Performances of his music at regional and national meetings of professional music organizations include the Society of Composers, Inc., Music Teachers National Convention, American Choral Directors Association, College Band Directors National Association, and the National Flute Association.

Dr. Adams also works periodically in the recording and publishing industry as a producer, arranger, orchestrator, and conductor. At OSU, Dr. Adams has received several awards including two Outstanding Faculty Member awards, the Friends of Music Distinguished Music Professor award, and the Wise-Diggs-Berry Award for Teaching Excellence.

Violin Solos for Worship, Cello Solos for Worship, French Horn Solos for Worship and Oboe Soloes for Worship are the next four volumes in the Brant Adams Instrumental Series for orchestral solo instruments with piano accompaniment. A CD recording of the solos and also of the accompaniment alone is included with each book. With one exception, all CDs feature OSU faculty with Adams on the piano.

URL: https://library.okstate.edu/news/celebratingbooks/2010-honorees/brant-adams

Last Updated: 13 March 2023