Robert Wendel

For the French steelmaker, see Robert de Wendel.

Robert Wendel
Robert Wendel.jpg Robert Wendel.jpg Robert Wendel – American composer from Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Born	1951 (age 74–75) Bridgeport, Connecticut
🏳️ Citizenship	United States
🏫 Education	University of Connecticut (BA) University of Connecticut (BSc) University of Connecticut (MA)
💼 Occupation	Composer

Robert Wendel (born 1951) is an American contemporary classical composer and conductor from Bridgeport, Connecticut. He has conducted orchestras across the United States, including those in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Minnesota, Baltimore, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Dallas. Wendel has also toured as a conductor for Harry Connick Jr., and conducted for the PBS special Romance From Paris as well as a 1998 concert for the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.

Biography

Wendel was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1951. He attended the University of Connecticut, where he majored in chemistry and music. While there, he studied with Hale Smith and took private lessons with Leroy Anderson, whose influence is apparent in Wendel's melodic and accessible style. He was an assistant conductor of the University of Connecticut Symphony and the New Britain Symphony. After receiving his Master of Arts degree, Wendel worked in musical theatre for several years before moving to New York City, where he worked as an orchestra member and stand-by conductor at Radio City Music Hall. Wendel also conducted and arranged music for Carol Channing during this time.

Wendel’s work has been performed at various events. These include a telecast on WJRT-TV 12 every December since 2001, a memorial concert for the Challenger astronauts at Kennedy Space Center, and a concert to honour Tuskegee Airmen and World War II veterans.

Awards and recognition

In 2014, Wendel received The American Prize Judge’s Special Citation for “Music for Use. Well Crafted, Accessible and Performance-Ready.” In 2015, he was named one of five “Honoured Artists” by The American Prize, recognizing his contributions to American orchestral music.

List of works

Orchestral

• "Fanfare for Freedom" (1994) - Premiered by the Atlanta Symphony
• "The Tall Ships" (1999) - Premiered by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
• "Commemoration" (2000) - Broadcast premiere by the National Symphony Orchestra
• "Parade of the Percussionists" (2000) - Premiered by the Hilo Philharmonic
• "Ride of the Headless Horseman" (2001) - from "A Halloween Trilogy" - Premiered by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra
• "Take Flight" (2003) - Premiered by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
• "The Pit and the Pendulum" (2004) - from "A Halloween Trilogy" - Premiered by the Chicago Civic Symphony
• "Towers of Light" (2006) - Premiered by The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and named a finalist in the first "American Prize" in Orchestral Composition
• "Trick Or Treat" (2006) - from "A Halloween Trilogy" - Premiered by the Hilton Head Orchestra
• "Meditation" (2008) - Premiered by the University of Wyoming Symphony
• "Fanfare: Welcome Home" (2010) - Premiered by the Gulf Coast Symphony
• "Caribbean Sleigh Ride" (2010) - Premiered by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
• "The Wolf Was Framed!" (2011) - Premiered by the Cherokee Symphony, Lee Thorson conductor
• "The Poltergeist Polka" (2011) - Premiered by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
• "The Nativity Bells" (After Byrd) (2013) - Premiered by the Atlanta Symphony

Vocal

• "Christmas Through Children's Eyes" (2001) - Lyrics by Vince Trani
• "Santa Dear" (2002) - Lyrics by Vince Trani and Robert Wendel
• "The Bells of Christmas" (2003) - Lyrics by Vince Trani
• "Virginia, 1861" (2011) - For the sesquicentennial of the Civil War (for S.A.T.B. choir, boys' choir and orchestra from texts by Herman Melville and James Joyce)
• "It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without you" (2011) - Lyrics by Vince Trani - Premiered by the Arkansas Symphony
• "This Is Chanukah" (2013) - Co-Premiered by the Philly Pops and The University of Wyoming Symphony and chorus. (Named a finalist for the 2014 "American Prize for Choral Composition)
• "Holiday Greetings" (2014) - Premiered by David Charles Abell conducting The Philly Pops, Festival Chorus, and Philadelphia Boys Choir (Named a finalist for the 2015 "American Prize in Choral Composition."
• "Ring Out Bells, Ring!" (2017) - Premiered by Jeffrey R. Smith conducting The Philly Pops and Philadelphia Boys Choir.

Arrangements

• "The Armed Forces March" (1998)
• "April Fool Concerto" (1994/2002)
• "Back to the Fifties" (1999)
• "Bali il Tarantella" (2009)
• "Baroque Festival Overture" (2007)
• "The Best Christmas of All" (1997)
• "Carol of the Bells" (1998)
• "Chanukah Overture" (1995)
• "Christmas a la Valse!" (1995)
• "Coventry Carol" (1995)
• "An Evergreen Christmas" (2000)
• "Fiesta Mexicana" (1991)
• "The Flintstones Meets the Jetsons" (1994)
• "From Sea to Shining Sea" (1993/1995)
• "A George M. Cohan Overture." (1994)
• "Good King Wenceslas (After Tchaikovsky 6th Symphony) (2018)
• "In The Manger" (1998)
• "An Irish Trilogy" (1998)
• "Jingle Fourth" (1990) - From "A Classical Christmas Suite"
• "Jonny Quest March" (2005)
• "Little Bolero Boy" (1990) - From "A Classical Christmas Suite" Also known as The Little Drummer Boy (Bolero)
• "A Merry Christmas Sing-Along" (2012)
• "Meditation" (2006)
• "An Old Fashioned Summer" (1998)
• "The Orange Blossom Special" (1996)
• "Orfeo's Rockatta" (2001)
• "The Original Ragtime Band" (1995)
• "O Holy Night (After Massenet - Thais)" - (2017)
• "Overture to a Merry Christmas" (1990) - From "A Classical Christmas Suite"
• "Protest And Hope" (1997)
• "Raymond Scott Music" (1993–1997)
• Includes "Powerhouse, Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals, Huckleberry Duck, The Penguin, The Toy Trumpet, Twilight in Turkey." Available through G. Schirmer
• "Rock Around The Clock" (1995)
• "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (2000)
• "Saint Bailey's Rag" (1991)
• "The Saint Louis Blues" (1994)
• "The Smurf's March" (2005)
• "A Stephen Foster Overture" (1992)
• "Still, Still, Still" (2010)
• "Surf's Up!" (1993)
• "Swing Ludwig, Swing!" (1999)
• "That's It, That's All... The End!" (2004)
• "Under The Big Top" (2006)
• "Viva Puccini" (1997)
• "We Need a Little Christmas" (1996)
• "We Three Kings..." (1990) - From "A Classical Christmas Suite"
• "When TV Was Young" (1999)

Discography

• American Reflections Catalog No: RWM001
• Christmas Old and New Catalog No: RWM002
• Christmastime Is Here Telarc - "Little Bolero Boy" and "We Need A Little Christmas"
• Commemoration ABC - Catalog No:4767929
• Christmas a la Valse Houston Symphony Society - Catalog No: B0000EI98P

References

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