OUR COMPOSERS

 

J.D Frizzell

 

J.D. Frizzell (b. 1983), composer, conductor, and baritone, is the Choir Director at Briarcrest Christian High School in Memphis, Tennessee. He earned a double Master's in Music Theory/Composition and Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi, where he also earned a Bachelor's in Music History and Literature. J.D., winnder of the 2007 Integrales Composition Contest, writes music for choir, orchestra, symphonic band, voice, handbells, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. His handbell music is currently available through Sapience Music Publishing. J.D. has also been in a composition master class with Rome Prize recipient Ken Ueno.

He has conducted many choirs at Southern Miss, including the Southern Chorale, the Concert Choir, the University Singers, the Southern Champer Singers, and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. In addition, J.D. has served as music director in United Methodist Churches in Ellsville and Gulfport, MS. He has been the artistic director of the professional choir The Voices of Tomorrow. J.D. appears regularly as a clinician and presenter in both choral and handbell settings.

Other accomplishments include being Southern Miss' 2003 Theodore Presser Scholar, a Southern Miss Leadership Scholar, and a recipient of the Kathryn Sweatman Page Endowment. Published research topics include the compositional process and the music of Igor Stravinsky. The Gwinnett Daily Post featured J.D.'s Mass in C on the front page of their Lifestyles secion.

Also active as a vocal soloist, J.D. has appeared with the Mississippi Symphony, the Gwinnett Symphony, many choirs at Southern Miss, the Voices of Tomorrow, and the Sanctuary Choir at First Presbyterian Church. In 2003, he was the 4th place winner in the Southern Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition.

J.D. can be contacted at jdf@jdfrizzell.com.