Though he has had projects and commissions in many places (Paris, London, Basel, Tanglewood, Santiago), Richard Felciano has always returned to Northern California where he was born. His love of choral music began while he was in High School and was encouraged by his first composition teacher, the French composer, Darius Milhaud (who also taught Dave Brubeck.) Felciano’s work resulted in a U. of Illinois Ph.D. dissertation, The Sacred Choral Music of Richard Felciano. He admires the solo voice as well, and was commissioned by the Library of Congress to create a song cycle using the interviews of Studs Terkel.
The Choral Artists performed Richard’s Two Hymns to Howl By in March 2007 and selections from his Three Madrigals from William Shakespeare in February 1992, again in March 1995, and in June 2000. We are delighted that he will compose new works for us this season.