Gloria Wilson Swisher

Gloria Wilson Swisher was born in Seattle, Washington. She graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle where she received a Bachelor of Music, summa cum laude, Mills College in Oakland, California, where she earned a Master of Music in composition and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she earned a Ph.D. in 1960. She studied composition under John Verrall, Darius Milhaud, Bernard Rogers, and Howard Hanson. She was a member of The International Association of Women in Music, the Darius Milhaud Society and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.[1] She was awarded the Sigma Alpha Iota Inter-American prize for her composition Salutations for oboe and piano.[2] Swisher was the subject of a 2009 University of Washington dissertation, The choral music of Gloria Wilson Swisher, by Robert Bigley.[3]

Swisher taught at Washington State University in Pullman, Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Shoreline Community College (1969–1998) in Seattle, and the University of Washington in Seattle. She was a Professor Emerita of Music at Shoreline Community College, and often performed as a duo pianist with Nancy Matesky. She was a founding member of Ars Nova Press, Inc., a non-profit corporation that promotes and reprints the work of quality composers.[4][5]

Selected works include:

Orchestral Works:

• 1957 Canción, for orchestra
• 1960 Concerto for clarinet and orchestra
• 1986 Niigata No. Sumie Black Ink Impressions of Niigata, concerto for piano and orchestra
• 2004 Concerto for flute and orchestra
• Serafina, portrait for orchestra

Works for large ensemble:

• 1955 3 Pieces for Piano & Band
• 1958 Suite for Piano & Wind Sinfonietta
• 1963 Dances for Tomorrow
• 1977 Thanksgiving I
• 1978 Procession
• 1984 Words to a Grand Child, for mixed choir and orchestra
• The Mountain and The Island

Masses and liturgical music:

• Psalm 150 for mixed choir, 2 trumpets, timpani and piano
• God is Gone Up With A Merry Noise, for mixed choir and organ

Stage works: Opera:

• 1983 The Artist and The Other - libretto: Willy Clark
• 1999 The Prestigious Music Award - premiered on February 18–20, 1999 at the Shoreline Community College Little Theater - libretto: Willy Clark
• 2008 The Legend of Poker Alice - libretto: Willy Clark[6]

Theatre:

• 2004 Gallagher And The Moonbeam
• Incidental music to "For Such A Time as This - text: Ann Chamberlin

Works for choir:

• 1973 Two Faces of Love, for mixed choir and piano
• Beat! Beat! Drums, for mixed choir, 2 trumpets, timpani and piano
• Let Us Celebrate, for mixed choir, 2 trumpets and piano

Vocal music:

• 1977 Sisters, for soprano and piano
• I Sit and Sew
• Tenebris
• The Cabal at Nickel Nackeys
• 1983 Sonnets for Donald, for soprano and piano
• 1990 Three for T, for tenor and piano
• 1995 A Velvet Madonna, for soprano and piano
• Montana, song cycle of six songs for mezzo soprano or baritone and piano

Chamber music

• 1990 Salutations, for oboe and piano
• In 1991 Caprichos for guitar and piano
• Pas de trois, for flute, violin and piano
• Sado, for flute and piano
• Theatre Trio for trumpet, alto saxophone and piano

Works for Organ:

• 2001 Chorale Prelude on "Slane" and "In Dulce Jubilo"

Works for Piano:

• 1983 "Joel" Variations
• Siciliana
• Transcending[7]

• The Music of Gloria Wilson Swisher