String Composers
Reynard Burns
Reynard Burns is a practitioner of
music education, composer, arranger and clinician. His orchestral work entitled "
Flying" was the
winner of the 2001
Merle Isaac Composition contest, sponsored by the
American String Teachers Association. This
Alfred Music publication can be purchased by going to the Buy Online heading on the home page. During the course of his thirty-five
years as a public school orchestra director, he has written and arranged music for
studio orchestra,
jazz strings, and quartets as
well as
full orchestra.
Rey has worked closely with the
Turtle Island String Quartet, as well as with jazz violinists
John Blake and
Randy Sabien. He studied arranging and orchestration with noted composer and arranger
Sandy Feldstein.
Currently, Rey is the Director of the
Dowling College Orchestra. He also presents workshops for string students and teachers on playing jazz and improvising. Taking an active roll in promoting string jazz, Rey has presented workshops at the
American String Teachers' Association's National Conferences as well as for public school teacher's and students.
The hands-on workshops
use the techniques taught in classical training as a basis for guiding string students into the world of jazz.
Reynard also presents workshops, lectures, and music reading sessions on the Music of Black Composers. Excerpts of these presentations are available on this website or by contacting Reynard.
Active memberships include
ASCAP, the
,
The Society of Composers,
American Music Center,
American String Teachers
Association,
New York State School Music Association,
Music Educators National Conference, and the
Suffolk County Music Educators
Association.
His
original music encompasses a wide variety of styles and instrument combinations, including
jazz strings,
full orchestra,
string orchestra,
wind ensemble,
woodwind quintets and instrumental
solos. His compositions have been performed by orchestra's and instrumental groups across the United States and abroad.
Flying and Reginhard Variations for Orchestra, are listed in the New York State School Music Association's manual of selected music for State Festival adjudication.