ABOUT

ARTIST’S BIO

Composer SJR Caldwell is fascinated with writing music which gives audiences immersive experiences. Inspired by popular avant-garde movements, Caldwell has sought to combine the accessible and the unfamiliar. Whether for full orchestra, chamber ensemble, soloist, electronics, or anything in between, Caldwell’s music welcomes performer engagement and repeated listening. Emotional sensitivity stems from research on the psychology of listening, while machine-like rhythms and noisy settings arise from experiments in glitch art and computer science. Caldwell often creates artwork, animation, and poetry to transform his music into engrossing multimedia works. No matter the current study, Caldwell is keen to find the next far-flung topic to incorporate into his ever-expanding fabric of music.

Caldwell’s eclectic interests are reflected in his educational background: he received a bachelor’s of science in biomedical engineering from The University of Akron in 2016, a master’s of music in composition from The University of Toledo in 2018, and a doctor of musical arts in music composition from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2023. During his school years, Caldwell acted as composer and sound designer for three University of Toledo theater productions, and enjoyed working with fellow musicians to organize countless successful concerts and premieres.

With a reading by The Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, a premiere by the Illinois Modern Ensemble, and a commissioned work by the Khroma and Soma Quartets, Caldwell has found success in ensemble writing. Currently based in Boston, Caldwell serves on the board of the organization New Music Mosaic (NMM), which is designed to lower barriers between composers and performers. The Boston Cohort of NMM recently premiered Caldwell’s piece Curious and Illimitable for five-piece ensemble with artwork and spoken word.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I think of music like an unfathomably vast world, where each new musical work is a chance for exploration—or, perhaps more akin to an adventure, to be taken in a playful spirit. There is something unknowable and mysterious about the way conscious intentions and subconscious experience become manifested in an artistic object; and if the simple joy of creation was not enough, observing how the piece transmutes through the lenses of performers and audiences is like witnessing a process of rebirth.

I write in many styles, ranging from very approachable to stridently opaque, but in all cases I strive for performer engagement and listener immersion. Without these two factors, the musical object cannot be sustained past its initial creation; consequently, I regard them as crucial influences on my creative process. I craft my music like a tailor, suiting the lines to the particular physicality and instrument of the musician. I also create artwork, animation, poetry, and more to enhance approachability for the audience, especially when dealing with less normative musical styles. Whether I’m exploring idyllic fantasies, cosmic horror, or anything in between, I want musicians and audiences to go on that journey with me, to find their own path, and to ultimately share in the joy of the experience together.

CURRICULUM VITAE

If you’re looking for all the details you could ever desire, then feel free to download my CV at the link below!