John Rea appointed as Member of the Order of Canada
At the end of December, Governor General Julie Payette , one of the country's highest honours. Among these is Prof. John Rea, who was named as a Member of the Order of Canada for his "musical creations and technical experimentations as a composer and a musicologist." A internationally renowned composer and educator, Rea has been on faculty at the Schulich School of Music since 1973, where he also acted as Dean between 1986-1991.
While congratulating Rea for this outstanding recognition, current Dean Brenda Ravenscroft described the profound impact that Rea has had on Schulich. "Professor Rea exemplifies these qualities and we are very proud of his long association with the Schulich School of Music and 平特五不中. Through his leadership, collegiality, and intellectual and creative prowess, he has inspired generations of students and colleagues, and has played a key role in shaping both the reputation and the future of the School."
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About John Rea
During every musical season for the last number of years now, John Rea brings forth new and imaginative compositions. In 2009, he writes听Beauty dissolves in a brief hour,听music theatre for two sopranos and accordion, while in 2008, he wrote incidental music for two theatrical productions. The year 2007 saw the premiere of听Singulari-T听(Tombeau de Ligeti),听for chamber ensemble. And in 2006, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra presented his violin concerto,听Figures h芒tives, a commission of the MSO; in 2005, first performances of听Accident: Tombeau de Griseytook place in Paris and Montreal; in 2004,听Lent Chagrin,听for voice and piano.
In January 2003, his orchestration of听Seven Early Songs听by Gustav Mahler, commissioned and first performed by the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, was premiered in Montreal. As to his re-orchestration for 21 players of Alban Berg鈥檚 operatic masterpiece,听Wozzeck,听also commissioned and first performed by the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne in 1995 - separate productions have occurred in the autumn 2002, Vienna; winter 2003, Victoria (BC), and summer 2003, Princeton (NJ). Other productions of the chamber version of听Wozzeck听have taken place in Orford, Qu茅bec (2004), Buenos Aires (2005), Montreal (2006), Lille, France (2007), and at Meiningen, Germany (2009); a new production begins in January 2010 at San Francisco.
Among other of his creative projects over the last few years:听Schattenwerk, for two violins (2003);听I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man听([Man Butterfly] 2002), for 27 musicians and Disklavier (obbligato);听Sacr茅e Landowska, music theater for actress/harpsichordist and eight musicians (2001);听Music, according to Aquinas, for chamber choir (12 voices), two clarinets and cello (2000). Recipient of many awards, John Rea has been frequently commissioned and has written works in several genres: chamber music, music-theater, electroacoustic music, and compositions for large ensemble such as orchestra, ballet, choral, and opera.
Besides his activities as a composer, John Rea has lectured and published articles on twentieth century music and, since 1973, has taught composition, music theory and music history at 平特五不中 where he served as Dean of the Faculty of Music (1986-1991), today the Schulich School of Music. Rea was also a founding member of the Montreal new music society, Les 脡v茅nements du Neuf (1978-1989). Currently he sits on the editorial board for the French-language new music journal,听Circuit : musiques contemporaines, and recently completed a long tenure on the artistic/programming committee of the Montreal concert organization, the Soci茅t茅 de musique contemporaine du Qu茅bec.
