Biography
Philip Schuessler is a composer, conductor, pianist, and educator whose music is characterized by rhythmic energy, intricate instrumental writing, and subtle timbral design. Drawing inspiration from experimental improvisation, spectralism, popular and rock music traditions, scientific processes, environmental issues, and countercultural political theater, his work ranges from solo and chamber music to orchestral, vocal, and electroacoustic composition. He is co-founder, assistant director, pianist, and conductor of Versipel New Music, a New Orleans-based organization dedicated to the performance of contemporary music throughout the Gulf South.
Schuessler’s music has been performed by leading contemporary ensembles and performers including Bergamot String Quartet, Yarn/Wire, Loadbang, Hypercube, Unheard-of//Ensemble, Mantra Percussion, Dither Guitar Quartet, Pesedjet, Iktus Percussion, violinist Graeme Jennings, cellist Craig Hultgren, pianist Mabel Kwan, and soprano Tony Arnold. His music has been featured at festivals and conferences throughout the United States and Europe, including the Darmstadt Summer Course, June in Buffalo, CCMIX Paris, SEAMUS, New Music on the Bayou, Spark Festival, and the Society of Composers National Conference. He has also participated in residencies and workshops including the Elliott Carter/Oliver Knussen Chamber Music Intensive at Carnegie Hall, the Oregon Bach Festival, MusicX Festival, and Brush Creek Arts Residency.
His electroacoustic works have been recognized internationally through performances and residencies at Elektrophonie’s NuitBleue Festival, the Futura Festival, and the Bourges Residence in France. Awards and honors include the Music Teachers National Association Commissioned Composer of the Year Award, the International Cello Loft Commission for Cello and Percussion, the Duo Fujin Composition Competition, Random Access Music’s Call for Scores, and a Composers Assistance Program grant from New Music USA.
Schuessler is currently Instructor of Music Theory and Composition at Southeastern Louisiana University, where he has twice received the President’s Award in Artistic Excellence. He earned degrees in composition from Birmingham-Southern College, the University of Miami, and the Stony Brook University, studying with composers Charles Mason, Dorothy Hindman, Dennis Kam, Keith Kothman, Dan Weymouth, Sheila Silver, Perry Goldstein, and Daria Semegen.
His music is published by Pendula Music, Society of Composers, Inc., Alea Publishing, T.U.X. People’s Music, Murphy Music Press, and Potenza Music. Recordings of his work appear on the Aucourant, New Focus, Centaur, Navona, Janus, Curvepoint Media, and Capstone labels. Recent releases include Glow in the Dark Valu-Pak, an album of psychedelic-tinged synth music, and Going Down the Sun Road, a collection of original songs.