William Neil

William Neil's site: http://www.thecomposerstudio.com/"

The music of WILLIAM NEIL has been performed on both sides of the Atlantic and has been featured at the Festival of Music in Evian, France, the Electronic Plus Festival in New York, the Pontino Festival in Italy, and the New Music Chicago Festival. He has written works for celebrated musicians including his Concerto for Piccolo Clarinet for John Bruce Yeh and Chicago Pro Music, recorded on the Newport Classic label, Fantasia, and Concerto for Guitar for guitarist Michael Lorimer, published by Melbay, Violin Rhapsody for violinist Sharon Polifrone recorded on Albany Records, and his songs set to poems by D.H. Lawrence, The Waters Are Shaking the Moon, for soprano Barbara Ann Martin, premiered on WFMT radio in June of 1996. In 1984 he was appointed the first composer-in- residence with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. His first opera, The Guilt of Lillian Sloan, was premiered in 1986. His orchestral works have been performed by the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, The Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Opus One Chamber Orchestra, Concertante di Chicago and the Czech National Symphony. His works-in-progress include an opera based on Federico Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba and a jazz musical based on Nelson Algren's last novel: The Devil's Stocking.

AWARDS

His creativity has been recognized by awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a BMI composition award, an ASCAP award, a Fulbright Fellowship, commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, an Illinois Arts Grant, and the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome.

Tom Gullion

Tom Gullion's site: http://www.tingjing.com/tg/

EXPAND AND REVISE

Tom Gullion started his professional career with jazz legend J.J. Johnson. Then a mere 22 years old and still studying at Indiana University with David N. Baker, he joined the group, along with Cedar Walton, Rufus Reid and Victor Lewis. After getting his degree with performance honors, Gullion moved to New York. New York turned out to be a good learning experience, and while living there he played and recorded with Rufus Reid, Joel Weiskopf and a host of other young musicians. He has also worked with the Spanish jazz group Clunia.and recorded a CD, "Carpe Diem," which features three Gullion originals. In 1995 Gullion moved to Chicago and recorded two critically acclaimed CDs under the Naim Audio (London) label. "Cat's Cradle" and "Greens and Blues" star Chicago jazz musicians John Moulder (guitar), Rob Amster (bass), Steve Gillis (drums) and Paul Wertico(drums). In 2002 Gullion moved to a farm in rural Wisconsin where he is expanding his musical horizons.