1. David Maslanka was an American composer of Polish descent who wrote for a variety of genres, including works for choir, wind ensemble, chamber music, and symphony orchestra.
12 Facts About David Maslanka
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Best known for his wind ensemble compositions, Maslanka published over 150 pieces, including ten symphonies, eight of them for concert band, over 15 concerti, and a full Mass.
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David Maslanka's compositions have been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
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David Maslanka received his Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory and went on to earn a Master of Music and Doctor of Philosophy from Michigan State University.
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David Maslanka served on the faculty of the State University of New York at Geneseo from 1970 to 1974; of Sarah Lawrence College from 1975 to 1980; of New York University from 1980 to 1981; and of the Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York from 1981 to 1990.
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David Maslanka died on July 3,2017, and Maslanka himself died on August 7,2017, following a brief battle with colon cancer.
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David Maslanka received five residency fellowships at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire, as well as generous grants from the University of Connecticut Research Foundation, the American Music Center, the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music, the State University of New York Research Foundation, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
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David Maslanka earned the National Endowment for the Arts Composer Award three times.
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From 1980 until his death in 2017, David Maslanka served as a guest composer for over 100 universities, music festivals, and conferences.
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David Maslanka wrote a complete Mass for full choir, soprano, and baritone solo, with accompaniment by full symphonic band.
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David Maslanka's works have been recorded and produced primarily by Albany Records, as well as Cambria Records, Crest, CRI, Klavier Music Productions, Mark, Novisse, St Olaf, and Umass labels.
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David Maslanka acknowledged the influence of his Polish heritage on his compositions.