About Erik Lund
Bio
Erik Lund composes music as analogies, commentaries, and meditations on aspects of the world in which we live. As such, his works are usually born of ideas and sources that are not inherently musical in nature, where he takes as his task the process of transformation into the sonic domain. The result has been music which has been described as “dramatic and gripping” (Martin Adams, Irish Times). Lund’s compositions have won the League of Composers, International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) and ASCAP composition competitions, and he has received grants for his work from the Musik Biennale-Berlin Festival, Meet the Composer, ASCAP, the Illinois Arts Council, and the Research Board of the University of Illinois. His works have been commissioned and/or performed by more than a dozen ensembles, including the Arditti Quartet (UK), Crash Ensemble (Ireland) and Wolpe Trio (Germany), Fidelio Trio (UK), Orchestra Giovanile Italiana (Italy), Tone Road Ramblers (USA), ensemble mise-en (USA), C2 Duo, as well as by several soloists. Professor Lund’s works have been performed at major festivals in the United States, Europe, and South Korea, and are recorded on Opus One Records, Cybele Records, Einstein Records, and Mark Records, and are published by Media Press and Brixton Publications. As trombonist, he has recorded with composers Anthony Braxton, Morgan Powell, Vinko Globokar, and with the Walleye improvisation ensemble. He currently performs regularly with the compostQ improvisation & dance collective.
Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy of teaching music centers on the process of composition. In teaching composition itself my goal is to facilitate self-discovery of my student’s own voice and manner of expression, which necessitates an understanding of what others have done before, and are engaged in presently. In the teaching of theory I insist that the music being studied (whether 18th Century tonal counterpoint or 20th century serial music) be understood both analytically (studying the works of others) and compositionally (hands-on application of the studied techniques in one’s own compositional exercises). I wish for my students to be well informed, and for them to have a strong and creative mind of their own.
Education
BM, Northern Illinois University; MM and DMA, University of Illinois