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About the Composer:
Duncan Tuomi (b. 1994) is a choral conductor and award-winning composer based in Los Angeles, California. He currently studies choral music in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of Southern California (USC), where he also completed his Master of Music degree. In addition to his choral music degree, he studied composition with Dr. Frank Ticheli and Dr. Chris Rozé. He also holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College, where he studied under Dr. Anton Armstrong and Dr. Christopher Aspaas, among many others.
As a composer, Tuomi was the winner of the 2023 American Prize in Short Choral Works, College and University Division, as well as the 2021 American Choral Director’s Association’s Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Competition. He was also a composition fellow in Choral Arts Initiative’s summer 2022 PREMIERE|Project. Tuomi has had works premiered by Choral Arts Initiative under the direction of Brandon Elliott, the USC Thornton Chamber Singers and University Chorus under his own direction and under the direction of Stevie J. Hirner, the Long Beach Youth Chorus under the direction of Stevie J. Hirner, the University of Portland Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Michael Connolly, the Pacific University Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Scott Tuomi. He has received commissions from the Long Beach Youth Chorus and was commissioned to compose for the 10th annual Brothers, Sing On! Tenor/Bass Choir Festival in 2018.
About the Piece:
A Friend's Greeting sets Edgar Guest's poem of the same name, which expresses a deep gratitude toward a dear friend, simply for being a part of the poet's life. My intention with setting this text was to offer my own thanks to those who have supported me through the hardest parts of my life with their friendship, not least of which has been the past few years facing the hardships of a global pandemic. While originally written for SATB chorus and Trombone Choir, I find the piano reduction to be equally capable of communicating the love and gratitude that I intended.
This piece was premiered by the USC Thornton University Chorus at the 2021 USC Winter Gala, a performance that had to be held virtually, due to the rising of yet another variant of COVID-19. The work was directed by my dear friend and colleague, Stevie J. Hirner, whose friendship and support was at the forefront of my thoughts while writing the work. It is my deepest hope that, whosoever performs this piece in the future, either director or singer, does so with someone in mind with whom they would like to share their gratitude, and that such expression is not limited to the scope of the music on the page, but takes shape every day in those peoples' lives.