About
For a PDF of his resume, click here
Short (73 words)
Joshua Baerwald is a composer/cellist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who creates music with the hopes of inspiring social change, challenging toxic institutions and concepts, and sparking imaginations. He writes for a variety of mediums, with a focus on vocal dramatic works. He received his BM from Florida State University, his MM from the University of Louisville as Moritz Von Bomhard Fellow, and is currently pursuing his AD at the Hartt School of Music.
Medium (250 words)
Joshua Baerwald is a composer whose music revolves around themes of the relationship between speech and music, the priority of spectrum over binary, and the power of dedicated imagination. He creates music with the hopes of inspiring social change through these themes, particularly by challenging audiences to envision a future more just, inclusive, and community-centric. His first opera based on Kafka’s novella, The Trial, was premiered in May 2017 in conjunction with the Florida State University Opera Department. He is currently finishing up his second large-scale dramatic vocal work as his Master's Thesis, which uses the Medusa myth to analyze self-identity after trauma.
Josh was selected as a composer for Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's Young Composer Workshop, and was finalist in the 2018 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. He has participated in the Mostly Modern Festival and the Wintergreen Music Festival, and was a resident at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
In addition to his roles as an artist and musician, Joshua has been active as a member of his community. He currently teaches an after-school class focused on composition at Louisville's Youth Performing Arts School, and has helped arrange and provide guidance in the premiere of over 25 works by young composers. Joshua received his B.M. in Music Composition at Florida State University, and is currently pursuing his M.M. in Music Composition at the University of Louisville as a Bomhard Fellow. His teachers include James Crowley, Clifton Callender, Daron Hagen, Krzysztof Wolek, and Steve Rouse.
Long (342 words)
Joshua Baerwald is a composer whose music revolves around themes of the relationship between speech and music, the priority of spectrum over binary, and the power of dedicated imagination. He creates music with the hopes of inspiring social change through these themes, particularly by challenging audiences to envision a future more just, inclusive, and community-centric. His first opera based on Kafka’s novella, The Trial, was premiered in May 2017 in conjunction with the Florida State University Opera Department. He is currently finishing up his second large-scale dramatic vocal work as his Master's Thesis, which uses the Medusa myth to analyze self-identity after trauma.
Josh has also functioned in roles as cellist and conductor. As a cellist, he has performed in a variety of ensembles, including the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, two orchestras at Florida State University, University of Louisville's New Music Ensemble, and the American Modern Orchestra. As conductor he has premiered a number of works of his own as well as works written by his colleagues.
Joshua has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Tallahassee Music Guild Scholarship, the Bess H. Ward Scholarship through the Florida State University Honors College, and a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Residency. Josh was selected as a composer for Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's Young Composer Workshop, and was finalist in the 2018 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. He has participated in the Mostly Modern Festival and the Wintergreen Music Festival.
In addition to his roles as an artist and musician, Joshua has been active as a member of his community. He currently teaches an after-school class focused on composition at Louisville's Youth Performing Arts School, and has helped arrange and provide guidance in the premiere of over 25 works by young composers. Outside of the music community, Josh has helped develop and facilitate leadership programs. Joshua received his B.M. in Music Composition at Florida State University, and is currently pursuing his M.M. in Music Composition at the University of Louisville as a Bomhard Fellow. His teachers include James Crowley, Clifton Callender, Daron Hagen, Krzysztof Wolek, and Steve Rouse.
For more information, or to obtain scores and/or parts, inquiries can be made through the contact page