IN THE MIX and LASTING BOND receive world premieres!

Congratulations to Spencer High School band director Kurt Schwarck and Spencer Middle School band director Janet Hoyt-Boyens on the terrific premieres of two new works for wind ensemble “In the Mix’ and “Lasting Bond”. Composing these works in honor of your illustrious careers at the Spencer IA Community Schools was a wonderful experience. My sincere thanks go out to you for all you have given and shared with your students, as well as the music education community!

With conductors Janet Boyens and Kurt Schwarck.

Two Wind Ensemble World Premieres

John has been invited to be an artist-in-residence with the Spencer (IA) Public Schools from May 15-17, 2023. Two wind ensemble works commissioned by the Spencer Bands will receive their world premieres during the residency.  Under the direction of Janet Boyens, In the Mix for wind ensemble will be premiered by the Spencer Middle School Wind Ensemble on Monday, May 15, 2023.  On Tuesday, May 16, 2023 the Spencer High School Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Kurt Schwarck, will premiere Lasting Bond for wind ensemble.

HIT THE NOTE for saxophone choir premiere at Bowling Green State University

The Bowling Green State University Saxophone Choir under the direction of John Sampen, will premiere Hit the Note for saxophone ensemble during the College Music Society’s Great Lakes Regional Conference Composers Concert at Bowling Green State University’s Bryan Hall in Bowling Green, Ohio on March 11, 2023.

WHO CARES IF YOU LISTEN at Jacksonville University

Violinist, Dr. Serena Scibelli, performed Who Cares if You Listen for violin and fixed media during the College Music Society’s Southern Chapter Regional Conference Composers Concert at Jacksonsville University’s Terry Hall in Jacksonville, Florida on February 24, 2023.

WIND ENSEMBLE COMMISSION

The Spencer (IA) High School wind ensemble under the direction of Kurt Schwarck and the Spencer Middle School Wind Ensemble under the direction of Janet Boyens has commissioned John to write two celebratory works for band.  Premieres are scheduled for May 2023 in Spencer, IA.

DOUBLE CONCERTO at Lawrence University

Dr. Andrew Mast and the Lawrence University Wind Ensemble will be performing John’s Double Concerto for Violin and Violoncello on Saturday, April 16 at 8:00pm. The concert features soloists Samantha George, violin and Horacio Contreras, violoncello. This is the second premiere of the Double Concerto commissioned by a consortium of university wind ensembles led by Scott Lubaroff and the University of Central Florida. Consortium members include Lawrence University, Dr. Andrew Mast; Auburn University, Dr. Richard Good; Concordia College, Dr. Peter Haberman; University of South Carolina, Dr. Cormac Cannon; and the University of California Santa Barbara, Paul Bambach.

Guest Composer at the 2022 Asian Classical Music Initiative Conference

John has been invited to be a guest composer at Kansas University’s 2022 Asian Classical Music Initiative Conference on April 8, 2022. He will be joining composer Ke-Chia Chen in a performance and discussion on art song settings of poems by Robert Frost. The performance features Zhengyingyue Huang, soprano, and Yi-Ying Chen, piano.

DOUBLE CONCERTO World Premiere

The University of Central Florida Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Scott Lubaroff will be giving the world premiere of my Double Concerto for violin, violoncello and wind ensemble at the South CBDNA/NBA Regional Conference at Northwestern Louisiana State University on February 21, 2020. The Double Concerto was commissioned by a consortium of university wind ensembles led by Scott Lubaroff and the University of Central Florida. Consortium members include Lawrence Universty, Dr. Andrew Mast, Auburn University, Dr. Richard Good, Concordia College, Dr. Peter Haberman, University of South Carolina, Dr. Cormac Cannon, and the University of California Santa Barbara, Paul Bambach.

HIT THE NOTE receives world premiere!

HIt the Note for flute choir was commissioned and premiered by the South Shore Conservatory Flute Symphony under the direction of Donald Zook on July 31, 2019 at the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Artist Residency

The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts has awarded John an artist residency in November 2019!

Consortium Commission

The University of Central Florida Bands, under the direction of Dr. Scott Lubaroff, is leading a consortium to commission John Frantzen to compose a double concerto for violin, violoncello and wind ensemble to be premiered in the spring and fall of 2020.

Artist Residency

The Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts in Saratoga, WY  has selected John to be an Artist-in-Residence in October 2019.

Artist Residency

John will be an May 2019 artist-in residence at the Edna St. Vincent Millay Colony for the Arts in Austerlitz, NY.

New Commission

Donald Zook and the South Shore Conservatory Flute Symphony in Hingham, MA have commissioned John to compose a new work for flute choir in celebration of their 30th Anniversary Season in 2019!

Murphy Music Press publishes SO SIMPLE and SKRONK

Murphy Music Press, a dynamic publishing house specializing in innovative works for winds has included two of John's works for wind ensemble in their catalog!  Skronk and So Simple are now available for purchase and rental at Murphy Music Press.  

World premiere performance of John Frantzen's SKRONK for wind ensemble given by the Lawrence University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Andrew Mast.

SO SIMPLE - University of Central Missouri Wind Ensemble - Dr. Scott Lubaroff

CATALYST at the University of California Santa Barbara

John with the UCSB Wind Ensemble in 2013.

Conductor Paul Bambach and the University of California Santa Barbara Wind Ensemble will be performing the four movement CATALYST symphony on their upcoming 25th Anniversary concert on May 27, 2018! 

SKRONK at the 2018 Auburn University Symphonic Honor Band Festival

Dr. Richard Good and the Auburn University Symphonic Winds performed SKRONK for wind ensemble on their featured 2018 Auburn University Symphonic Honor Band Festival performance.

Auburn University Symphonic Winds 

SKRONK on tour with the Concordia Band

The Concordia Band - Photo by Sheldon Green

The Concordia Band, under the direction of Dr. Peter Haberman, will be performing SKRONK for wind ensemble on their domestic tour across the Midwest! February 6-11, 2018.

CATALYST symphony with the California State University at Fullerton Symphonic Winds

Dr. Dustin Barr rehearsing Catalyst with the CSUN Symphonic Winds.

Dr. Dustin Barr and the California State University at Fullerton Symphonic Winds performed John's four movement Catalyst for wind ensemble on December 3, 2017.

Composer Residency at Mt. San Antonio College

In rehearsal with the Mt. San Antonio College Wind Ensemble.

Dr. Gregory Whitmore and the Mt. San Antonio College Wind Ensemble invited John to be a composer residence during their 2017-2018 season culminating in a featured performance of Euphoria.