Michael Braz**

Michael Braz is Professor of Music at Georgia Southern University, where he teaches composition and orchestration, as well as occasional courses on Finale music software and Wagner’s Ring Cycle. He is currently in the process of organizing an alumni chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in the Southeast Georgia area. His newest project is a two-act opera concerning racial politics in 1941 Georgia, and the firing of a respected college president by the populist governor of the state. The work, A Scholar Under Siege, is Braz’ second opera, and will be premiered in the spring of 2007 as a part of Georgia Southern’s Centennial celebration. Currently, Braz has 17 compositions and arrangements in print, published by Hinshaw and Colla Voce. He can be contacted at 912-681-5397 (school) or at mbraz@georgiaasouthern.edu.

Premieres

A swing setting of Take Me Out to the Ball Game for male vocal quartet and orchestra was commissioned by Permanent Guest Conductor Bruce Hangen for the Boston Pops Orchestra and performed last summer. Two Christmas settings, I Saw Three Ships for SSA and piano, and A Christmas Cornucopia (“Ding Dong Merrily On High,” “He Is Born” [“Il Est Né”], “Adeste Fideles”) for SSA, flute, and piano, were commissioned by Musical Director Thomas Sibley for the Raleigh (NC) Boychoir. Additionally, Braz wrote and conducted the incidental music for A Place to Call Home, a full-length musical play celebrating the Statesboro (GA) Bicentennial.

Publications

The Heavens Are Telling (Haydn), 2 part; written for the Statesboro Youth Chorale; Hinshaw Music.

**Sigma Alpha Iota Friend of the Arts

Further Information

• 2002-2003 American Composers Update
• 2001-2002 American Composers Update
• 2000-2001 American Composers Update
• 1999-2000 American Composers Update
• 1998-1999 American Composers Update
• 1997-1998 American Composers Update