New Music USA Online Library

Stan was raised in the Bronx, studied at the Bronx House School of Music, and later graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with undergrad and graduate degrees in music theory. He studied piano with Robert Helps and Leon Kushner and composition with Ursula Mamlok and Joseph Prostakoff. Working for most of his career outside of the music field, Stan continues to compose a broad variety of music, mostly for chamber ensembles. Major works include music for string orchestra and voice, string orchestra and clarinet, a nonet for winds and strings, and several song cycles for soprano and mixed instruments. Performances have been produced by the composer, as well as presented by the Composers Guild of New Jersey, the St. Paul’s Church Festival of the Arts, the Leonia Chamber Players, the New York Composers Circle and the Bronx Arts Ensemble. One World Symphony commissions have included settings of Shakepeare's "Ophelia Songs" for soprano, harp and string orchestra and an orchestral "Pluto" to accompany a performance of Holst's "The Planets."  "Mystical Songs" setting poems by the Spanish poet and mystic Fernando Rielo was performed in Lloja, Ecuador.  The Duo + Ensemble performed an entire concert Stan's music in Tokyo in 2009, including the premiere of "Morning Music" for clarinet and string orchestra.  In 2012, the Pandolfis Consort, an early music group, premiered several works for early instruments, including viola d'amore and theorbo.  Also, in 2012, the Camerata Philadelphia performed "Pavanne to a world without war" for string orchestra.

Stan's music is melodic, modal, contrapuntal, characterized by extended, interweaving, melodic lines. His musical influences span the centuries, and include Machaut, Josquin, Palestrina, Monteverdi, Lassus, Britten, Ives, Vaughn Williams and Shostakovich. Two main themes permeate many of the pieces - music intended to influence the minds and hearts of those who hear it in such a way as to encourage thoughts about the possibility of world peace - and music composed in an attempt to translate something about the nature of the physical world.