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Artistic Director
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Critics repeatedly praise conductor Roger Briggs' performances with words like "dazzling", "vibrant" "brilliant" and "masterful". He has guest conducted in Europe and the United States, and recorded with such internationally renown orchestras as the London Symphony and the Prague Symphony-- for a total discography of six CD releases. He has performed with internationally acclaimed artists including Leon Fleisher, Ursula Oppens, Jennifer Koh, Evelyn Glennie, Orion Weiss, Alicia Weilerstein, Jana Bouskova, and Corey Cerovsek.
Mr. Briggs has been the Artistic Director of the Whatcom Symphony since 1996. Under his leadership the orchestra has expanded to an award winning, critically acclaimed, regional orchestra, consistently drawing large enthusiastic audiences. He founded the Whatcom Symphony Chamber Orchestra, the Music by American Composers commissioning series, the Chamber Music NOW! program, and has assisted in establishing an impressive orchestral/educational outreach program in the Bellingham area.
Mr. Briggs is equally at home with contemporary scores, founding the Michiana New
Music Ensemble in South Bend, IN, and the Contemporary Chamber Players at Western
Washington University. He has guest conducted established contemporary ensembles such
as the New Performance Group, Zephyr, and Fear No Music.
With an international reputation as a composer, he most recently received the
prestigious Lieberson Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in New
York. His works have been performed in Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Cultural Arts
Center, Glinka Hall in St. Petersburg, Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Academy, and
Benaroya Hall. He is the recipient of numerous awards, honors and fellowships.
Dr. Briggs, who has served on the faculty of Western Washington
University since 1989, was born in Florence Alabama in 1952. Briggs was educated
at the University of Memphis receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition
and Piano Performance. He continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music,
receiving a Masters Degree and a Ph.D. in Music Composition. He studied conducting
with Gustav Meier and composition with Samuel Adler, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies,
and Pulitzer Prizewinning composers Joseph Schwanter and Ned Rorem.
More information is available at www.rogerbriggs.com
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WSO Board President
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It’s almost impossible to watch television anywhere in the world without hearing the music of Ken Harrison. For 24 years Ken wrote music for television and film. In 1974, Harrison was hired by CBS as a copyist. He quickly moved through the creative ranks. He coordinated the music preparation for A Star Is Born with Barbra Streisand, Rocky with Sylvester Stallone, and worked on numerous musical specials with Lucille Ball, George Burns, and Johnny Cash.
Ken soon became an orchestrator on Dallas and Knot’s Landing, and at the same time was writing charts for the Tonight Show band. In the late 70’s, Ken was hired to compose the music for Fantasy Island. Also in charge of all pre-recordings needed for the show, Ken was able to do arrangements and original songs for guest stars such as Lou Rawls, Milton Berle, Loretta Lynn, and Sammy Davis Jr. Many other series and projects followed . . . Dynasty, The Colbys, Hotel, Hart to Hart, and MacGyver. Ken has written every kind of music imaginable in his illustrious career – jazz, rock, country, classical and contemporary . . . and has twice won the ASCAP AWARD for “most performed composer in a surveyed year”.
In 1992, Ken made a quality of life decision and moved to the Northwest. He experienced some of his busiest years, continuing to write scores for MacGyver, as well as Melrose Place, Stargate, and numerous Movies of the Week. While his day job now has him enthusiastically selling real estate in Bellingham . . . his passion will always be putting pen to music paper. Being involved with the WSO as a board member, an occasional guest composer/conductor, and most recently as the newly appointed board president, keeps music a vital part of Ken’s life.
More information is available at www.hollywoodnorthmusic.com
