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I work to create in others the same spark that music created in me.
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The breadth of John M. Kennedy’s work reflects his early background as a rock and jazz bassist, an eclectic experience that led to his realization that all sound can be music, and all music is a manifestation of the sounds and experiences around us. This holistic view of music, along with travels to distant places with his wife and children, continues to provide a deepening understanding of the many voices that surround us all.
Recent career highlights include the European premiere of Chaconne Part 1 by Ensemble KammerKlang in Norway (August 2020), the 2019 release of his “Yer-(2012)” for solo flute by Rita D’Arcangelo in Italy, and the premiere of “Chaconne-Part 1” for mixed sextet by the French group TM+ (2019). Upcoming first performances include the premiere of “Triticco Siciliano” (2020) for solo guitar by Fabio Barbagallo, Italy, the premiere of his solo bass piece “Syrinx: Requies I, D.M.” in late 2020. Current commission projects include an oboe/fixed media work for Richard Kravchak, and a solo double bass piece for David Heyes and the Proto-HautaAho International Commissioning Project, United Kingdom. Throughout his career his work has been performed throughout the US and Europe, including World Saxophone Congresses in Scotland and Zagreb; in Malta by members of the Malta Philharmonic and the Armed Forces Malta Band; Interensemble of Padova, Italy; the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble; the Salzburg Mozarteum; and new music festivals in Bangkok, Kwang-ju and Daegu. As a double bassist he premiered William Roper’s “New-Opened Eyes-1965” memorializing the Watts Riots in February 2019, and in June 2019 premiered Roper’s entire graphic score suite, "Experience > Dream > Memory - Slivers of Time”.
In 2017 he received a Fulbright Scholar award to spend a semester teaching at the University of Malta. In addition to lectures in composition and American musical styles, he was asked to write a work for brass and percussion commemorating the arrival of the SS Ohio to Malta, breaking a WW II blockade of the island nation. The work was premiered in Malta on August 14, 2017, the 75th anniversary of the arrival. Kennedy has made significant contributions to the saxophone literature and two of these works were performed at the 2018 World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia: the premiere of “Breath, Smoke, Crystals” for solo saxophone by Tong Yang of China, and “Lamentations: Hayasdan” for saxophones and piano by Dionisios Russos of Greece. Early recognition for his work includes the Charles Ives Prize from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters and a Young Composer Award from ASCAP. His work has been recognized by Meet the Composer (Now New Music USA), ASCAP Plus Awards and Subito grants from the American Composers Forum, Los Angeles. A faculty member of California State University, Los Angeles since 1994, he received an Outstanding Professor Award in 2013. At the University of Michigan, he studied music composition with Leslie Bassett and William Albright, and double bass with Lawrence Hurst and Stuart Sankey. For more information on his work, please visit www.johnmkennedy.net, or follow him on Twitter (@composerkennedy) and Facebook (@johnmkennedycomposer)
Recent career highlights include the European premiere of Chaconne Part 1 by Ensemble KammerKlang in Norway (August 2020), the 2019 release of his “Yer-(2012)” for solo flute by Rita D’Arcangelo in Italy, and the premiere of “Chaconne-Part 1” for mixed sextet by the French group TM+ (2019). Upcoming first performances include the premiere of “Triticco Siciliano” (2020) for solo guitar by Fabio Barbagallo, Italy, the premiere of his solo bass piece “Syrinx: Requies I, D.M.” in late 2020. Current commission projects include an oboe/fixed media work for Richard Kravchak, and a solo double bass piece for David Heyes and the Proto-HautaAho International Commissioning Project, United Kingdom. Throughout his career his work has been performed throughout the US and Europe, including World Saxophone Congresses in Scotland and Zagreb; in Malta by members of the Malta Philharmonic and the Armed Forces Malta Band; Interensemble of Padova, Italy; the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble; the Salzburg Mozarteum; and new music festivals in Bangkok, Kwang-ju and Daegu. As a double bassist he premiered William Roper’s “New-Opened Eyes-1965” memorializing the Watts Riots in February 2019, and in June 2019 premiered Roper’s entire graphic score suite, "Experience > Dream > Memory - Slivers of Time”.
In 2017 he received a Fulbright Scholar award to spend a semester teaching at the University of Malta. In addition to lectures in composition and American musical styles, he was asked to write a work for brass and percussion commemorating the arrival of the SS Ohio to Malta, breaking a WW II blockade of the island nation. The work was premiered in Malta on August 14, 2017, the 75th anniversary of the arrival. Kennedy has made significant contributions to the saxophone literature and two of these works were performed at the 2018 World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia: the premiere of “Breath, Smoke, Crystals” for solo saxophone by Tong Yang of China, and “Lamentations: Hayasdan” for saxophones and piano by Dionisios Russos of Greece. Early recognition for his work includes the Charles Ives Prize from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters and a Young Composer Award from ASCAP. His work has been recognized by Meet the Composer (Now New Music USA), ASCAP Plus Awards and Subito grants from the American Composers Forum, Los Angeles. A faculty member of California State University, Los Angeles since 1994, he received an Outstanding Professor Award in 2013. At the University of Michigan, he studied music composition with Leslie Bassett and William Albright, and double bass with Lawrence Hurst and Stuart Sankey. For more information on his work, please visit www.johnmkennedy.net, or follow him on Twitter (@composerkennedy) and Facebook (@johnmkennedycomposer)