Monica Topliff Houghton
Website: www.monicahoughton.com
Current Position
Composer and Teacher of Composition for the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University.
Education
The Cleveland Institute of Music, M. M., composition 2003
Harvard University, A. M., East Asian Studies 1976
Radcliffe College, A. B., cum laude 1975
Awards
Thanatopolis Music Prize: Rituel Adieux 2010
Boston Metro Opera NMNE Concert Award 2010
American Music Center Composer Assistance Awards 2004, 2008
Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award 2007
Ohio Music Teachers Association “Composer of the Year” 2007
ASCAP PLUS Awards 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
SCI/ASCAP Composition Competition, Region V Winner 2002, 2003
The Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra Prize 2002
Ohio Federation of Music Clubs, First Prize 2001
Performances of Works
“Blue Shuffle,” Don Better, electric guitar, Drinko Hall, Cleveland State University, October 3, 2010.
“Five Songs on Poems of James Wright,” premiered by Patrick Mason, baritone, with Alexandra Nguyen, piano, at Grusin Hall, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, September 21, 2010.
“Whalefall,” performed for the first annual ContemporaryAmericana Festival, Boston Massachusetts, September 24, 2010.
“Three Songs on Texts of Walt Whitman,” Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor; Church of St. John the Evangelist, Boston, Massachusetts, May 8, 2010.
“The Zephyr Waltz,” arrangement for solo ‘cello; Charles Bernard, ‘cello; for the Cleveland Composers Guild 50th Anniversary, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, April 23, 2010.
“Whalefall” performed by Todd Wilson, organ, and Drew Robertson, viola, at Lake Erie College for the Cleveland Composers Guild, March 21, 2010.
“Epigram” for string quartet, Cleveland Chamber Collective, for the Cleveland Composers Guild, at Christ Episcopal Church, December 7, 2009, and for the Cleveland Chamber Music Guild, on October 11, 2009.
“Alma redemptoris mater,” SATB a cappella, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, December 6, 2009, and again on Christmas Eve.
“Four Seasons Gentlemen,” premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Collective, for the Rocky River Chamber Music Society, March 16, 2009.
“Odyssey,” performed by Christiana Reader, viola, for the Cleveland Composers Guild,
Christ Episcopal Church, February 22, 2009.
“Corpo Sonoro,” performed by Halida Dinova, Drinko Hall, Cleveland State University, for the Cleveland Composers Guild, September 28, 2008.
“Oh Will, Come See,” (from “The Big Bonanza”) performed by Andrea Chenoweth, soprano, and Eric Charnofsky, piano, August 22, 2008, United-Epworth United Methodist Church.
“The Big Bonanza,” (entire) Steven Byess, Music Director; Brian K. Johnson, baritone; Andrea Chenoweth, soprano; Herb Lentz, tenor; Ray Liddle, bass; Michael Jankosky, tenor; Lance Ashmore, baritone; Kimberly Lauritsen, mezzo-soprano; Elijah Bell, treble; Eric Charnofsky, piano. Private performance, Mixon Hall at the Cleveland Institute of Music, June 20, 2008.
“Umbrella Drink,” performed by the Moore Better Duo, Drinko Hall, Cleveland State University, April 24, 2008.
“Whalefall,” arranged for viola and organ, premiered by Lynne Ramsey and Karel Paukert, April 20, 2008, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights.
Faculty Composer Recital: Music of Monica Houghton, “Blue Shuffle,” Don Better, guitar; “Corpo Sonoro,” Halida Dinova, piano; first complete performance of “In Singing Weather,” Andrea Chenoweth, soprano; “Here On Earth” (world premiere), Leah Goor, violin; Lindsay Wile Charnofsky, clarinet; Julie King, ‘cello; Eric Charnofsky, piano; “Close(Far)” (Cleveland premiere) Amber Dimoff, violin; Julie King, ‘cello; Richard King, horn; Matthew Bassett, percussion; Linda Jones, piano; Thiago Tiberio, conductor and reciter; Mixon Hall, Cleveland Institute of Music, April 6, 2008.
“Osa Sinfonia,” premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Steven Smith, Music Director; Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, on March 30, 2008.
“I Dreamed in a Dream” (from “Three Songs for Lyric Baritone”) performed on the Kent Classic Arts Series, by Patrick Mason, baritone, and Mitsumi Moteki, piano, on March 29, 2008, Ludwig Recital Hall, Kent State University.
“In the Dunes,” performed by Tuyen Tonnu, February 24, 2008, at Pilgrim Church, for the Cleveland Composers Guild; and February 12, 2008, at Illinois State University.
“Corpo Sonoro,” four poetic pieces for solo piano (based on poems by Maria Davico), premiered by Halida Dinova, at the Ohio Music Teachers Association Annual Convention, in fulfillment of the 2007 “Composer of the Year” Commission, on November 16, 2007, in Columbus, Ohio.
“Whalefall” (based on a poem by Elizabeth Bradfield) and “Calypso” (a selection from the song cycle “In Singing Weather” based on the poems by Maggie Anderson) premiered by Andrea Chenoweth, soprano, and Eric Charnofsky, piano, on September 23, 2007, at Cleveland State University.
“Mishi Peshu,” performed by Andrew Welborn, Cleveland Institute of Music, May 19, 2007.
“Scene 10” from The Big Bonanza, performed May 14, 2007, in Finney Chapel at Oberlin College, Jonathon Field, Director.
“Sky Signs,” premiered by The Cleveland Duo and James Umble, on April 29, 2007, at Epworth-Euclid United Methodist Church, Cleveland, Ohio.
“Ghost Temple,” premiered by the Oberlin Percussion Group, under the direction of Mike Rosen, at Cleveland State University on April 9, 2007.
“Dante’s View,” performed by the Case Western Reserve University Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Matthew Bassett, on April 9, 2007 at Cleveland State University; and on April 14, 2007, at Harkness Chapel on the Case campus.
“Erebus,” performed by Karel Paukert, on February 4, 2007, ACO Lincoln Organ Showcase, Lincoln, Nebraska; and on March 11, 2007, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
“Mishi Peshu: Vision at Big Water,” performed by Don Harry, Principal Tuba of the Buffalo Philharmonic, at Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music, on November 27, 2006.
Excerpts from “The Big Bonanza” performed at the Virginia Arts Festival John Duffy Composers Institute, Norfolk Virginia, May 2006.
“In the Dunes,” for solo piano, premiered by Tuyen Tonnu, at SUNY Stony Brook, on May 10, 2006.
“The Tree Serenades,” performed by members of the Cleveland Chamber Collective and guests, at Epworth Euclid United Methodist Church, on May 7, 2006 in Cleveland, Ohio.
“Mishi Peshu: Vision at Big Water,” for solo tuba, premiered at the University of Akron, April 10, 2006, by Brian Kiser, for the Cleveland Composers Guild.
“Sonata for Piano” performed by Diana Fanning, April 2, 2006, at the American Church in Paris, France; and at Konzerthaus Brunnthal, Munich, Germany on April 4, 2006.
“String Quartet No. 1 (2001/03),” performed by Ruth Marie Bridge and Nazig Tchakarian, violin, Jin Yu, viola, and Micheal Kaufman, ‘cello, for the Fortnightly Musical Club, Kulas Hall, at the Cleveland Institute of Music, on March 14, 2006.
“Sonata for Piano,” Diana Fanning, piano, February 19, 2006, at Pilgrim Church, for the
Cleveland Composers Guild; and in Montpelier, Vermont, on January 29, 2006.
“Blue Shuffle,” for solo guitar, premiered by Don Better, on September 25, 2005, in Drinko Hall, at Cleveland State University, on a concert of the Cleveland Composers Guild.
“Erebus,” performed by Karel Paukert at the Cathedral of St. Bavo in Ghent, Belgium, on August 11, 2005.
“Glancing at Flowers,” Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, Warren Friesen, Music Director; July 27, 2005, at Weber Hall, on the campus of the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
“Dante’s View,” for soprano saxophone, percussion and contrabass, premiered by Fireworks for the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium, on July 2, 2005, at Beall Hall on the campus of the University of Oregon, Eugene.
“Little Suite for Jason,” for solo piano performed April 10, 2005, by Jon Huang, at the Cleveland Music School Settlement, for the Cleveland Composers Guild.
“String Quartet No. 1 (2001/03),” performed on a program of the Cleveland Composers Guild, February 27, 2005, at Pilgrim Church.
“One Morning in September (2004),” for large wind ensemble, premiered by the Case Western Reserve University Symphonic Winds, Gary Ciepluch conducting, at the Cleveland Institute of Music, on February 20, 2005.
“We Rise Above Our Little Quarrels,” for Vietnamese dan tranh (zither) and sao (bamboo flute), premiered at the Hanoi Opera House, on January 2, 2005.
“Erebus”, performed by Karel Paukert, at Yale University, December 2004.
“Sonata for Piano,” performed by Diana Fanning, November 7, 2004, Bryan Memorial Art Gallery, in Jeffersonville, Vermont; and also on October 17, 2004, Crossroads Arts Council Recital Series, “Sundays at Two,” in Rutland, Vermont.
“Erebus,” performed by Dr. Frances Nobert, on a concert jointly sponsored by the International Alliance of Women in Music and Pasadena Presbyterian Church, on June 6, 2004.
“String Quartet No. 1 (2001/03),” performed on a program of the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, in He Lu Ting Concert Hall, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai, China, May 14, 2004.
“Sonata for Piano,” performed in recital by Diana Fanning, March 7, 2004 at Middlebury College, Vermont; March 26 at Kimball Union Academy, New Hampshire; and on February 29, 2004, at Marlboro College.
“Canyon Voices,” performed by the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, Liza Grossman, Music Director, on December 13, 2003, at Waetjen Auditorium, Cleveland State University.
“Erebus,” for solo pipe organ, premiered by Karel Paukert, at the Cleveland Museum of Art, August 27, 2003; second performance given on November 2, 2003, for the AKI Festival of New Music.
“Talismans I-IV” and “Umbrella Drink,” with baritone Andrew White for the AKI Festival of New Music, at the Heights Arts Gallery in Cleveland Heights, October 3, 2003.
“Close (Far),” for violin, ‘cello, horn, piano and percussion, premiered by the Symposium Chamber Ensemble at the Ernest Bloch Music Festival, Newport, Oregon, June 30, 2003.
“Psalm 121,” version for soprano solo with piano, performed on June 21, 2003 at the Lear Theater, Reno, Nevada.
“Talismans I-IV” and “Umbrella Drink,” for soprano voice and guitar, the Moore/Better Duo, Rocky River Chamber Music Society Concert Series, March 3, 2003.
“The Un-National Monument” SSAATTBB a cappella, “Dragon’s Lullaby,” “Impass II,” “Three Songs for Lyric Baritone,” “LAST WORD,” “String Quartet No.1,” “Umbrella Drink” and “Talismans I-IV,” and “The Tree Serenades,” performed on March 2, 2003, in Kulas Hall, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“Scene 3” from The Big Bonanza, a new American opera, premiered by CIM Opera Theater, Gary Race, Director, February 14, 15 and 16, 2003, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“String Quartet Betrayals,” performed for the Tuesday Musical Association, Akron, Ohio, February 11, 2003.
“Canyon Voices,” for full orchestra, performed by the CIM Orchestra, with Carl Topilow conducting, on January 29, 2003, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“LAST WORD,” a brass trio dedicated to Yassar Arafat and Ariel Sharon, premiered on December 4, 2002, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“Three Songs for Lyric Baritone,” premiered December 4, 2002, by José Gotera, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“Glancing at Flowers,” for small orchestra, performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Andrew Rindfleisch conducting, November 14, 2002.
“Impass II,” performed on a concert of the Cleveland Composers Guild, September 8, 2002.
“The Tree Serenades,” for flute(s), clarinet(s), violin, ‘cello, percussion and piano, with text by the composer, premiered May 5, 2002, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“Dragon’s Lullaby”, electronic composition, performed in recital on April 22, 2002, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“String Quartet Betrayals,” premiered on December 4, 2001, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“Villa Dallas (Pantoum),” for soprano, clarinet and harp, based on a poem by Renata Cinti, for the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs in October 2001. (First performed in a version with piano on February 20, 2000, for the Cleveland Composers Guild.)
“Prelude for Peter,” piano solo, premiered in April 2001 by Peter Choo (age 16) at the Cleveland Music School Settlement, Annual Cleveland Composers Guild Junior Concert.
Selections from “In Singing Weather,” a song cycle for soprano and piano based on poems by Maggie Anderson, performed for the Tuesday Musical Club on March 13, 2001.
“Impass II,” for English horn and contrabass, premiered December 4, 2000, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
“Sonata for Piano,” performed at Harkness Chapel in April 2000 for the Lyman Prize Competition, Lisa Musca, pianist.
“Impass I,” for two pianos, and “Sonata for Piano,” premiered November 7, 1999, on a concert of the Cleveland Composers Guild.
“Psalm 121,” version for soprano solo with organ, performed at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, on May 23, 1999.
“Ménage a Trios,” a trio for violin, ‘cello and piano, performed for the Cleveland Composers Guild at Lake Erie College on May 17, 1998.
Selections from “In Singing Weather,” a song cycle for soprano and piano based on poems by Maggie Anderson, performed for the Cleveland Composers Guild on October 26, 1997.
“Fantasy and Scherzo,” for ‘cello and piano, performed for Tuesday Musical Club on April 22, 1997; and previously, for the Cleveland Composers Guild, on October 13, 1996.
“Fireflies” and “In the Neighborhood,” for soprano and baritone respectively, with piano, texts by the composer, the Cleveland Composers Guild on October 15, 1995.
“Psalm 121,” for SSA with harp and oboe, premiered by the Arch Bishop Hoban Choir in Akron, Ohio, on May 9, 1995.
“Meditation,” for solo piano premiered by the composer for Tuesday Musical Club, on April 19, 1994.
Commissions
Israel Heller, “Ocho Duos de los Refugios” (2007) violin duos
Ohio Music Teachers Association Composer of the Year Commission, “Corpo Sonoro” (2007) solo piano
The Cleveland Duo and James Umble, “Sky Signs” (2005) violin, piano and soprano sax
Don Better, “Blue Shuffle” (2004) solo guitar
Gary Ciepluch, Director, Case Western Reserve University Wind Ensembles, “One Morning in September” (2003/04) symphonic wind ensemble
Karel Paukert, “Erebus” (2003) solo pipe organ
Festivals and Symposia
Opera America Composer/Librettist Symposium, Syracuse, December 2007.
Virginia Arts Festival, John Duffy Composer Institute, May 2006.
Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium, June 2005.
Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, May 2004.
AKI Festival of New Music, Cleveland, Ohio, October 2003.
Ernest Bloch Music Festival, Newport, Oregon, Composer Fellow, June 2003.
June in Buffalo Festival, June 2002.
Discography
Karel Paukert, Aubade: Organ Music by Ohio Composers, Cleveland Museum of Art, Azica (ACD 71229) “Erebus”
Member of ASCAP, the American Music Center, American Composers Forum, Cleveland Composers Guild, and Music Teachers National Association.