Composer and saxophonist in Chicago, IL

Shawn Brogan Allison (ASCAP) has been commissioned by a variety of groups, including the American Composers Forum, Cantus, the Esoterics (Seattle), the Cornell Chorale, the Ithaca College Men?s Chorus, and the St. Olaf Band; his projects have received funding from the New York State Council on the Arts, the Jerome Foundation, the Cornell Arts Council, and the University of Chicago Arts Council. He won the 2009 POLYPHONOS competition (U.S. Composer category), the 2004 Jerome Commissioning competition, 2nd prize in the 2009 Cello-Riss competition (Norway), and received an honorable mention in the 2004 Ladislav Kubik International Composition Competition (for his song El Rio Naciente). Upcoming projects include: a chamber opera entitled "The Man who Changed his Name into a Poem" for the Nautilus Music Theater in Minneapolis, MN, which focuses on intersections between storytelling and quests for authenticity in the 21st century; a work about moths entitled "Towards the Flame" for the NY-based Cadillac Moon Ensemble; and a meditation on American national identity called "Three Colors," for symphonic band.

Shawn has been involved in the administration of many new music groups. He recently served on the steering committee of the Chicago Composers Forum and currently serves as New Music Advisor for the Sapphire Chamber Consort in Minneapolis. He was a founding member of the Ithaca, NY-based new music group Tabula Rasa. As a saxophonist, Shawn has performed with the MAVerick Ensemble, Ensemble X, the CCCP (Cornell Contemporary Chamber Players), Tabula Rasa, and the University of Chicago?s New Music Ensemble. As a member of the New Heritage Saxophone Quartet, he was a semi-finalist at the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, and performed in a variety of national venues, including the 2003 World Saxophone Congress. Shawn has given world- and US-premiere performances of many works, including pieces by David Lang and Jacob ter Veldhuis. He has performed as a soloist with the Cornell Wind Ensemble and the St. Olaf Band, and was a saxophone instructor at Cornell University and Ithaca College.

Shawn holds degrees in saxophone performance and composition from St. Olaf College (B.M.) and Ithaca College (M.M.). A Javits Fellow, he is currently working on his PhD in composition at the University of Chicago. His primary composition teachers have been Shulamit Ran, Marta Ptaszynska, Dana Wilson, Timothy Mahr, and Peter Hamlin.

Music is a powerful communicator. Make sure you are saying what you mean to.

2010
The Man Who Changed His Name Into A Poem**--chamber opera, for baritone and chamber ensemble

2009
Towards the Flame--for fl, vln, vcl, and perc.
Three Colors*--for Symphonic Band
Nocturne--for mixed choir (SSAATTBB, with divisi), a cappella
Improvisation ("Breathe")--for solo tenor saxophone
Night Rituals*--for fl, cl, vln, vcl, perc., and piano
Suite for Solo Fiddle*--for solo violin

2008
Dawn Ritual--chamber orchestra


2006
Look Down Fair Moon (Walt Whitman) SATB, divisi
Oceano 2:Chant (Pablo Neruda) SSAATB, divisi
Pied Beauty (Gerard Manley Hopkins) SATB, wind ensemble (25 players), organ

2005
Oceano 1: Vocalise --SSAATTBB a cappella
The Dawning (Neruda, Hopkins, Merwin, Tse, Whitman, Thomas)--choir, wind ensemble, organ, and soloists

2004
El Rio Naciente (Pablo Neruda)--- soprano, guitar, and piano
Currents-- two alto saxophones, vibraphone/marimba, and piano
Tripping up Inertia (David Pisa)--three cellos and reciter

2003
El Viaje de Amar (Pablo Neruda)--TTBB men's chorus
Elegy and Exorcism--sax quartet
Ceremony After a Fire Raid (Dylan Thomas)-- SSAATB choir, wind ensemble (18 players) and organ
Meditation and Exorcism--two alto saxophones

2002
Oracion (Pablo Neruda)--soprano voice, offstage alto saxophone, chamber strings, prepared piano, and two percussionists

*denotes work in progress
**denotes upcoming project