Martin Rokeach, Composer

 

The music of composer Martin Rokeach has been described as “fascinating . . . cleanses the listener’s musical palate . . . positively aglow with contented reflection,” (Fanfare Magazine); “surprising and utterly delicious” (San Antonio Express News); “Rokeach has a rare talent for knowing exactly how long his music should be . . . not one second longer, nor shorter, than necessary” (21st Century Music).

 

Rokeach's works have been performed by the Oakland Symphony, Pacific/Mozart Ensemble, Ensemble Variant (Geneva), San Francisco Concerto Orchestra, Chameleon Arts Ensemble (Boston), the United States Army Orchestra, Dunsmuir Piano Quartet (San Francisco), League of Composers (NY), Ensemble Flageolet (Flagstaff), the Chicago Ensemble, Divisa Ensemble (San Francisco), Musica Nova (Macedonia), Duo Sforzando (Geneva), Atlanta Contemporary Ensemble, Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble, the St. Petersburg (Russia) Chamber Players, the Sheridan Players (Chicago), the Webster Trio (Houston), Guitarinet (Poland), New Dischord (Chattanooga), Tempo (Los Angeles),   and many other outstanding ensembles and soloists throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia. His works have earned honors in over fifteen national or international composition competitions, most recently those sponsored by the Atlanta Contemporary Ensemble, International Horn Society, and International Clarinet Association, and he has been commissioned to write music for the Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Competition, New York’s Cygnus Ensemble, Switzerland’s Dobrzelewski/Marrs Duo, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, Music Teachers Association of California, New York’s Eight Strings and a Whistle, The Bowers/Fader Duo (NY), San Francisco Symphony Principal Hornist Robert Ward, Detroit Symphony Principal Hornist Andrew Pelletier, and numerous other soloists.  He has been a featured composer and speaker at the Ecole Haute de Musique in Switzerland, Hartt Conservatory of Music, New York University and Wichita State University, and concerts devoted exclusively to his music have been held at Western Carolina University and Washington State University.

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Mr. Rokeach earned his Ph.D. in music composition and theory from Michigan State University and Bachelor's and Master's degrees from San Francisco State University. A Professor Emeritus at Saint Mary's College of California, for 33 years he was Artistic Co-director of San Francisco's contemporary music concert series, Composers, Inc.  His oratorio, Bodies on the Line: The Great Flint Sit-Down Strike, was recently premiered by the Oakland Symphony and Chorus.

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