Bios

Judges

Mark Arnest

Though he’s best known as the arts writer for the Colorado Springs Gazette, for which he’s written more than 1,400 articles, Mark was trained as a pianist and composer. His compositions range from the tuneful pastiche of “All About Love,” a musical based on Plato’s “Symposium,” to the thorny atonality of “In Memoriam S.J., a theater piece for string quartet". Other compositions include the historical musical “Iron & Gold”; and “Theme and Meditations” for chamber orchestra; as well as numerous songs and scores for plays.

 

Ofer Ben-Amots -Judge/Advisory Committee 

Born in Haifa, in 1955, Israel, Ofer Ben-Amots gave his first piano concert at age nine. At the age of sixteen he was awarded first prize in the Chet Piano Competition. Later, following composition studies with Joseph Dorfman at Tel Aviv University, he was invited to study at the Conservatoire de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland. There he studied with Pierre Wismer and privately with Alberto Ginastera. Ben-Amots is an alumnus of the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany, where he studied with Martin C. Redel and Dietrich Manicke and graduated with degrees in composition, music theory, and piano. Upon his arrival in the United States in 1987, Ben-Amots studied with George Crumb at the University of Pennsylvania where he received his Ph.D. in music composition. Currently on the faculty of Colorado College, Dr. Ben-Amots is an Associate Professor of music composition and theory.

Ofer Ben-Amots' compositions are performed regularly in concert halls and festivals worldwide. His music has been performed by such orchestras as the Zürich Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, ÖRF - Austrian Radio Orchestra, The Bruckner Orchestra of Linz, Brooklyn Philharmonic, The Moscow Camerata, Heidelberg, Erfurt, Brandenburg, the Filarmonici di Sicili, the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, The Portland Chamber Orchestra, and the Colorado Springs Symphony among others. His compositions have been professionally recorded by the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Barcelona Symphony, the BBC Singers, and the renowned Czech choir Permonik. Ben-Amots has received commissions and grants from the MacArthur Foundation, Fulbright Foundation, Maurice Amado Foundation, Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival, Fuji International Music Festival in Japan, Delta Ensemble from Amsterdam, Assisi Musiche Festival, and many others. Ofer Ben-Amots is a the Musical Advisor Ensemble Meitar and currently serves as their Composer-in Residence.

Ofer Ben-Amots is the winner of the 1994 Vienna International Competition for Composers. His chamber opera, Fool's Paradise, was premiered in Vienna during the 1994 festival Wien modern and has become subsequently part of the 1994/95 season of Opernhaus Zürich. He is recipient of the 1988 Kavannagh Prize for his composition Fanfare for Orchestra and the Gold Award at South Africa's 1993 Roodepoort International Competition for Choral Composition. His Avis Urbanus for amplified flute was awarded First Prize at the 1991 Kobe International Competition for Flute Composition in Japan, and a required composition at the 1993 Kobe Flute Performance Competition. In 1999, Ben-Amots was awarded the Aaron Copland Award and the Music Composition Artist Fellowship by the Colorado Council on the Arts. In 2004 he won the Festiladino, an international contest for Judeo-Spanish songs, a part of the Israel Festival in Jerusalem. Dr. Ben-Amots is a member of the Advisory Board and the Editorial Board of the Milken Foundation American-Jewish Music Archive. In addition, he is a Jerusalem Fellow of the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity and its Artistic Director for North America since 1997.

Ofer Ben-Amots' works have been repeatedly recognized for their emotional and highly personal expression. The interweaving of folk elements with contemporary textures, along with his unique imaginative orchestration, creates the haunting dynamic tension that permeates and defines Mr. Ben-Amots' musical language. His music has been published by Baerenreiter, Kallisti Music Press, Muramatsu Inc., Dorn, and Tara Publications. It can be heard on Naxos, Vantage, Plæne, Stylton, and Music Sources recording labels. For more information on Ben-Amots, visit www.oferbenamots.com.


Conrad Kehn

www.playgroundensemble.org
www.myspace.com/playgroundensemble
http://portfolio.du.edu/ckehn
www.myspace.com/conradkehn

Conrad Kehn is a performer, composer, improviser, educator, writer and artist. He is the founding Director of The Playground; a chamber ensemble dedicated to modern performance. Conrad is also a lecturer of Music Theory, Composition and Music Technology at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, where he directs the Lamont Composers Concert Series. An award winning composer, Conrad’s style spans all genres touching on electro-acoustic music, multimedia works, graphic scores, aleatory, and experimental rock, but still remains grounded in the western music tradition. His music has been performed across the US including Issue Project Room (NY), Audio Inversions (Austin, TX), Pendulum New Music Series (CU-Boulder), and the Summer New Music Symposium at Colorado College.
Conrad has been spotted on stage with a variety of acts including the sporadically performing improv ensembles Mystery Children & Rhythmic Void, the experimental multimedia ensemble Itchy-O, now defunct rock bands Kallisti and Skull Flux, and of course The Playground.
 As a vocalist, Conrad specializes in improvisation, contemporary music, and the use of electronics. Improvisatory collaborations include performances with Wu Fei, Tatsuya Nakatani, James Ilgenfritz, Brandon Vaccaro, Nate Wooley and the ensemble Attack/ Adorn/ Decay. Recent concert hall performances include Bolcom’s Satires, Ligeti’s Nonsense Madrigals, Morton Feldman’s O’Hara Songs, Cowell’s songs for low voice, Rzewski’s Les Moutons de Parnuge and his own compositions.
Conrad holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Commercial Music and Recording Technology from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music (1996). He also has a Master’s Degree in Composition from Lamont (2000) where he was named the Outstanding Graduate Student in Composition and the Outstanding Graduate Student in Commercial Music. His composition instructors include Don Keats, M. Lynn Baker, and Bill Hill. He is currently pursuing an MBA at the Daniels College of Business focusing on Entrepreneurship and Non-profit Management.
 


Max Lifchitz

The versatile Max Lifchitz has been a dynamic figure in America's musical life for a number of seasons. Born in México City in 1948, he has resided in the US since 1966. A graduate of The Juilliard School and Harvard University, his activities both as composer and performer have established him as a true musical citizen of the world.
"A young composer of brilliant imagination and a stunning ultra-sensitive pianist" is how the San Francisco Chronicle described him. The New York Times referred to him as an "interesting and able musician" and praised him for his "clean, measured and sensitive performances." The American Record Guide commented: “One of America’s finest exponents of contemporary music…. Mr. Lifchitz is as good on the podium as he is behind the keyboard.”
Max Lifchitz has appeared on concert stages throughout Latin America, Europe and the US. His compositions and performances may be heard on the Classic Masters, CRI, Finnadar, New World, North/South, Opus One, Phillips, RCA Victor and Vienna Modern Masters record labels. His GRAMMY nominated CD album Diversions (North/South Recordings No. 1026) elicited the following comments from Grammophone Magazine: “Lifchitz has devised a charming programme of previously unrecorded pieces… His affectionate playing provides surprising emotional weight… Beautifully recorded album…Recommended.”
Max Lifchitz was awarded first prize in the 1976 International Gaudeamus Competition for Performers of Twentieth Century Music held in Holland. Robert Commanday, writing for The San Francisco Chronicle described him as "a young composer of brilliant imagination and a stunning, ultra-sensitive pianist." New York Times music critic Allan Kozinn praised Mr. Lifchitz for his "clean, measured and sensitive performances” while Anthony Tommasini stated that he “conducted a strong performance.” Payton MacDonald, writing for the American Record Guide, remarked, “Mr. Lifchitz is as good on the podium as he is behind the piano.
”Writer Jack Sullivan, reviewing his most recent solo releases for the American Record Guide stated: “Max Lifchitz, for whom much of the music featured in Final Bell (N/S R 1044) was written, plays with his usual brave authority, and North/South’s sound has a large, much-needed dynamic range.” And concerning American Women Composers (N/S R 1043) Mr. Sullivan wrote: “better to celebrate this engaging collection of new music played with color and commitment by one of America’s finest exponents of contemporary piano music.”

 

Margaret Miller
 Margaret Miller began her viola studies in the Detroit area public schools, continuing at Indiana University where she studied with David Dawson, Georges Janzer, and Leonard Davis. She received a Certificate in Chamber Music and a Master's degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she was teaching assistant to Jerry Horner, violist of the Fine Arts Quartet. Ms. Miller has toured Germany and Italy as a member of the Novello Quartet, and has appeared on live radio broadcasts in Chicago with members of the Fine Arts Quartet.

Margaret has an active private studio, and is also Instructor of Viola at Colorado College.

 

Leonard Rhodes - Judge; Executive/Artistic Director
Founder, Artistic and Executive Director of  Pikes Peak Young Composers Inc., Leonard Rhodes’ career has spanned over 40 years as composer, pianist, organist, lecturer, teacher, and musical director.  He received diplomas in piano from the Royal Academy of Music and the London College of Music.  He also studied composition with a student of Olivier Messiaen at Morley College, University of London.   Rhodes’ affiliations include the Incorporated Society of Musicians (UK), the Royal College of Organist’s (UK), ASCAP (USA), Colorado Composers Forum, the American Guild of Organists, and the Music Teachers National Association.
He is currently Music Director, Choir Master and Organist at Lord of the Mountains Lutheran Church, Dillon, Colorado. As  pianist and organist, he has performed throughout the world – on the concert stage, the cathedral, and the country club. His repertoire encompasses the collective worlds of classical, jazz and popular music.
In the UK, Rhodes served as the Head of Music at various schools. He was the Founder and Director of the Oxney Theatre Centre, and Director of the Tenterden Choral Society in Kent, England. Rhodes was signed to CBS Records as keyboardist for the band, Key West.
Rhodes has musically directed live performances of I Do! I Do!, The Boyfriend, Private Lives, A Christmas Carol, , Doonesbury, Marat/Sade, Something’s Afoot, and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. He also was Music Director for the following Los Angeles Productions on the Houston, Texas stage:  Beehive, The Rocky Horror Show and Leader of the Pack
 Rhodes’ many compositions and commissions include Bethlehem! The Journey; My Head and My Heart; The Adventures “Musical” of Pericles (in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the Virginia Shakespeare Festival); The Waterbabies; Incidental Music for A Christmas Carol; Salonika; Private Lives; and educational pieces for Trinity College London. He arranged music and produced the BBC Radio (UK) Choirgirl of the Year for two years. Much of Mr. Rhodes’ original compositions, transcriptions,  and musical arrangements may be found on his web-site: www.lenrhodesmusic.com
In the USA, Rhodes has served as a state and regional panel member for the Colorado Council on the Arts; U.S. Coordinator and Representative for Trinity College London; and Teaching Artist for the Texas Institute for Arts in Education. He was Music Advisor at Madison Country Day School in Madison, Wisconsin, and also taught History of Music at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Mr. Rhodes received the Pikes Peak Arts Council/Arts Business and Education Award for 2002.
His biography can be found in 2000-2001 edition of the International Who’s Who in Music, Volume One – Classical and Light Classical. Mr. Rhodes was on the faculty of the International Summer Music Festival in Michelstadt, Germany.

Board/Advisory Committee

Carolyn Carpenter-President
Sandra Rhodes-Vice President

Len Rhodes-Founder/Artistic Director
Yolanda Amundson-Treasurer
Deirdre Binkley-Jones
 Wayne Hoey
Ofer Ben-Amots - Advisory Chair
Wendy Mike
Jerry Brown
Stephen Ellis Morse, LLC - Attorney and Registered Agent