SHEILA FIRESTONE by Elaine Bossik
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Sheila Firestone
Sheila Firestone, M.S. Ed., composer, has been a student of musical composition since 1987. Her most recent works include Miriam and the Women of the Desert, a musical journey into the Exodus told through the eyes of Miriam the Propehtess, to be premiered in 2019. Waters of Transformation, which was the second place winner in the first Vinnie Rheam Music Award. Third World E-Waste Graveyards, The Grandchildren’s Suite, The Pandora Triptych, preludes, choral pieces and Ancient Blue Threads, a collection of original sacred songs and settings of traditional words with original music. Sheila is a Past President of the Boca Raton Branch of the National League of American Pen Women. She has served as Secretary for the State of Florida for the National League of American Pen Women, and First Vice President for the Florida NLAPW. Firestone is the composer of a new musical, Miriam and the Women of the Desert. EB: How did you come to music as a child? Did you study music theory? SF: As a young girl, I had private piano lessons where I learned fundamental theory and how to improvise. My music teacher encouraged me to apply to the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). When I was accepted at BAM, I went there for weekly piano and theory lessons. My first piano recital was there. I studied privately and joined the band at my junior high school. EB: Do you compose music? If so, how many songs have you composed? In what genre? SF: For many years, I was a teacher of gifted children and I used music in the classroom. When I was 45 years old and about to begin a doctoral program in education, melodies started coming into my mind. That’s when I turned to studying composition with a private teacher. I have been on this journey ever since. I had three influential mentors. I wrote instrumental works, including canons, preludes, a symphony, suites, a sonata, a chaconne, a brass EBuintet, a string trio, a rhapsody, an album of new age music with many individual songs, three children’s
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