Christopher Dietz holds a Ph.D. in composition and theory from the University of Michigan as well as degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and the University of Wisconsin. He was previously a faculty member at the Oberlin Conservatory and Hillsdale College. He composes music inspired by a wide variety of sources, both real and conceptual. Poetry, sound as sculpture and color, how toddlers play, deep time and the cosmos, rhythm as geometry, religion and politics, animal behavior, and the music of others are a few of the subjects that have informed his musical imagination. A similarly diverse approach to the creation of each new piece has resulted in a collection of works distinct in their surface features yet bound together by a common vitality, nuanced palette, and a commitment to engaging with others.
In recent years, Christopher’s works have been premiered in London, Auvillar (France), Montreal, Ottawa, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Houston, Phoenix and Ann Arbor, among others. His music has been performed by numerous contemporary ensembles including Alarm Will Sound, Decoda, The Orchestra of the League of Composers, Ogni Suono, The Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, The East Coast Contemporary Ensemble, The Chicago Ensemble, Trio Kavak, Palomar, TACTUS Ensemble, Dark in the Song, The Color Field Ensemble, as well as traditional ensembles such as L’Orchestre de la Francophonie, The San Jose Chamber Orchestra, The Beau Soir Trio, The Orange County Symphony, The Toledo Symphony, the University of Michigan Symphonic Band and additional university ensembles across the United States. Upcoming collaborators include the Deviant Septet and pianist Solungga Liu. His work has been featured at new music festivals such as soundSCAPE (Italy), The Etchings Festival of Contemporary Music (France), The Queens New Music Festival, Florida State's Biennial Festival, Mizzou New Music Summer Festival, Tutti Festival of New Music, MusicX Festival and the New Music Festival at Bowling Green State University.
Residencies at Copland House, Canada’s Banff Centre and The Camargo Foundation (Cassis, France) have been important milestones in the development of Christopher's compositional voice. Recognition of his work has come from honors and awards including ASCAP’s Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, The Minnesota Orchestra Reading Sessions and Composer Institute, The Riverside Symphony Composer Reading Project (NYC), The Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music, Random Access Music, The Utah Arts Festival’s Orchestral Commission Prize as well as several academic awards, grants and scholarships. Christopher's music has been released on New Focus, Navona and Cambria Records.
www.christopher-dietz.com
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