Florida Composer Reaches World Audience
Florida native composer gains international exposure with release of new works for classical guitar.
(PRWEB) May 15, 2005 -- Florida native guitarist/composer Rex Willis continues to expand his international reputation by releasing two exciting new publications of recent compositions for his beloved instrument, the classical guitar.
Following his recent concert performance at the University of Miami International Guitar Festival where the evocative "Suite South America" a tone poem for flute and guitar, was premiered to an enthusiastic and praiseful audience, Willis has arranged for publication of this and other major works with the U.S.-based publishing company Clear Note.
Willis original compositions have been described as haunting and high-energized . . . fun . . ." (Sound Board Magazine), accessible . . . skillful . . . and brilliant" (Les Cahieve de la Guitare, France), and very powerful", (Classical Guitar).
A native Floridian, Rex is a faculty member at Manatee Community College, Bradenton, Florida, where he teaches guitar, composition and music theory. He received his Masters in Music Composition from Florida State University and attended composition master class/lectures with the ledgenary American composer Aaron Copland. Rex has also studied with world-renowned guitarists Bruce Holzman, Pepe Romero and Christopher Parkening.
New works by Willis have been commissioned by universities, professional music organizations, and performing artists, including two commissions by Stetson University for guitar orchestra that received world premiere performances. He has also been a faculty member of the Stetson Guitar Workshop, a featured lecturer, conductor and teacher at the International Guitar Festival Brno, 2004 (Czech Republic) and a concert artist at the Miami International Guitar Festival, 2005. Performances of Willis compositions have been given around the globe, most recently in Prague and Brno, Czech Republic, Dallas, San Antonio, Miami, Green Bay, Washington, D.C., London, Tokyo and Peru.
In 2003 Willis created Guitar Unplugged, a weekly television series on Manatee Educational Television, a program he hosts. He also judges composition contests at both the state and national level, and has been an instructor at New College, in Sarasota, Florida.
Clear note publisher Karl Wolff said "We're very excited to have Rex Willis join us in our appreciation and support of classical guitar. We've only had time to release one edition of Rex's new work "Reflections" (engaging solo pieces that evoke the Florida landscape) since the Miami premiere and we had orders from around the globe before the publication even went to press. We look forward to his continued success as one of the new American composer's."
More information about Rex Willis can be found at Clear Note on the Web.
Janet Best, editor.
Photograph of Rex Willis available on request and at: http://www.karlwolff.com/reflections.html
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