Hiram Titus

Hiram Titus, pianist and composer from Minneapolis, started his piano career early, playing multiple concerts and competing in piano competitions at high school age. Because of his affinity to the piano, he went on to attend and graduate from Oberlin College, where he started seriously composing. Since his graduation from Oberlin, he has played and composed for multiple theatre companies in Minneapolis (notably The Guthrie and his stint as a musical director for the Children's Theatre).

Since then he has released multiple LPs: notable ones include Sea of Love, an album composed almost entirely of Titus' improvisational prowess, and the recent "Prelude To Summer," a live album of a concert he performed with opera singer Carrie Hennessey and Cellist Matt Knippel in August 2006.


Here is the bio from Hiram Titus' website, www.hiramtitus.net:

For the last thirty years, Hiram Titus has been associated with many local and regional theaters including the Guthrie Theatre and the Minneapolis Children'sTheater where he was Composer in Residence for four years. His theater and opera scores have been enjoyed throughout the world as well as his television and film scores. Mr. Titus has also produced and directed theater and video productions. Prior to that he enjoyed a career as a concert pianist, earning degrees in piano and composition from Oberlin College.

Hiram Titus began his musical career in music at the advanced age of two. Playing by ear at the piano, and improvising, his fascination with music started early. His piano studies began with Guy Duckworth (at age 10) at the University of Minnesota and Domenic Argento (at age 12) were followed by a major in piano and minor in composition at Oberlin College where he performed many important piano works by Schoenberg, Bartok, Stravinsky, and Berg. He continued his interest in composition by creating works for theater and modern dance.

After graduation, Hiram returned to Minneapolis where he was discovered by the Minneapolis Children's Theater and offered a full time position as Composer in Residence. Soon he was also creating scores for productions at the Guthrie Theater, and other theater companies around the country, as well as operas for Minnesota Opera and the Houston Grand Opera.

Commissions

* Minnesota Opera (Rosina)
* Houston Grand Opera (Hadleyville and The Lucky Lady)
* Minneapolis Civic Orchestra (Concerto for Guitar)
* The LA Gay Mens Chorus (The Sandhills)
* Bethlehem Lutheran Church (The Enchanted Castle)

In the last twenty years, Mr. Titus has continued to write for theater, film, television, dance, opera, computer software, and even theme parks. His music has been heard world wide and his works have been performed and appreciated in China, Russia, Canada, Japan, and many locations in the USA.

Mr. Titus is currently music director at Unity Christ Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he composes spiritual works for chorus, and solo voice, as well as scores for theater productions. A highlight for me was being chosen to compose the score for the first ever stage adaptation of "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins", for the Childrens Theater in Minneapolis and being able to meet and spend time with the author, Dr. Seuss himself. A great guy and a wonderful experience.

Awards as a Pianist

* Numerous awards beginning around age 8 from local Twin Cities musical societies including The Thursday Musicale, and the Schubert Club. Also chosen to be soloist with the MInneapolis Symphony at age 14.
* Winner in the NMTA national competitions
* Finalist in the New York Philharmonic Young Artist Competition, where as a senior in high school he performed for Leonard Bernstein at Carnagie Hall.
* Winner of Van Cliburn Scholarship to National Music Camp in Interlochen Michigan, also won the Joseph E Maddy award in composition
* Regnery Scholarship to Oberlin Conservatory
* Rudolf Serkin Prize for piano at Oberlin
* Minneapolis Critics award Kudos for outstanding work in Theater
* LA Dramalogue awards for theater scores in California