Jeffrey Ouper

Jeffrey Ouper (b. 1983) is an emerging neotonal composer of the southwest, influenced primarily by the music of Ravel, Stravinsky, Bernstein, Barber, and Rorem.  He recently graduated with a D.M.A. in Music Composition at Arizona State University and has a M.M. in Music Composition from Arizona State University and a B.M. in Music History/Theory from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Jeff has written several works in many different genres ranging from traditional wind band settings to choreographed solo pieces with video and has been commissioned to write original works and arrangements. His music has been performed locally by community ensembles like the Arizona Wind Symphony and nationwide by similar ensembles.  In addition to composition Jeff teaches private music lessons to many students young and old throughout the Phoenix metro area through his independent small business Dr. Jeff Music Lessons.

Jeff’s doctoral dissertation From Machine to Instrument: A composer’s Perspective of Turntables Composition is one of the first comprehensive guides to incorporating turntables with traditional classical instruments.  It includes information drawn from interviews with important turntables composers Nicole Lizee, Gabriel Prokofiev, and Paul Leary.  Various notation methods, approaches to composition, historical background, information about the instrument, and challenges faced by composers are discussed with the goal that this knowledge will guide future composers in writing for the instrument from a more informed perspective.

While a student at ASU, Jeff studied composition with Jody Rockmaker, Rodney Rogers, James DeMars, Roshanne Etezady, and Glenn Hackbarth, and served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate music theory and aural skills. He collaborated with several choreographers to create new works that were performed on the ASU faculty and student dance concert series. Embers was selected as the winner of the composition competition and was performed by the ASU Wind Symphony under the direction of Gary Hill. His string quartet titled Contrasts was composed for a special collaboration involving the Phoenix Art Museum.  Faeries Tale Dances for sopranino recorder, E-flat clarinet, and toy piano was commissioned and recorded by clarinetist James Applegate in 2013.

While a student at UW-Whitewater, Jeff studied music composition with Jeff Herriott and instrumental conducting with Glenn C. Hayes. He performed three recitals featuring standard solo clarinet literature as well as his own compositions and transcriptions. Jeff organized a student performance of Terry Riley's In C, and has been a student guest conductor for the Whitewater Chamber Wind Ensemble. In 2006, his Finale clarinet trio was performed at the SCI (Society of Composers, Inc.) national student composer conference.  He also conducted the premiere performances of The Clown Cavalry with the Lakes Area Community Band and Embers with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band. 

Jeff has played clarinet since 1993 and studied privately with Christian Ellenwood and Jana Starling. His favorite clarinets are the alto, bass, and contrabass. Jeff is a self-taught recorder player and has experience on sopranino, soprano, alto, and tenor recorders. While an active member of the Whitewater Early Music Ensemble and ASU Baroque Ensemble, he has performed various sonatas, cantatas, and ensemble music.  He has even featured his own solo recorder work with the Phoenix Early Music Society.  He currently plays saxophone with the Arizona Wind Symphony and bass flute with Desert Echoes Flute Project.