Blaise Ferrandino

Dr. Blaise J. Ferrandino is Professor and Division Chair of Music Theory and Composition at Texas Christian University where he has been since 1990. Besides his work as a composer Ferrandino is a Music Theorist and Double Bassist. His degrees are from Ithaca College, Syracuse University, and the Hartt School where he studied with Gary Karr and David Murray. He is active in publishing, presentation, and composition/performance. At TCU he has served as Interim Director of the School of Music and Chair of the Faculty Senate. Beyond TCU Dr. Ferrandino has served as President of the Texas Society for Music Theory and is a College Board consultant for Music Theory in the Southwest Region.

Compositions include song cycles, orchestral pieces, a wide-ranging assortment of chamber music, an opera, and solo works. Recently published works include Song and a Dance for Double Bass and Piano commissioned by the International Society of Double Bassists to serve as the compulsory piece for their 2011 competition and Crucible, commissioned for the TCU Trombone Summit quartet competition. Other double bass music includes Song of the Guerillas where the bass is part of a mixed ensemble including violin, viola, cello, clarinet, and piano and Berceuse for two double basses and piano. Both Song of the Guerillas and Berceuse received their premier performance in Shanghai, China. The latter was broadcast over national radio to an audience of many millions.

The musical drama Retrieving the Spirit premiered in April of 2012. Sonata for Pianoforte and Violoncello, Hopes and Dreams, Sonata in the form of Four Vocalises, Symphony for Wind Ensemble, Crucible for trombone ensemble, Trio 2015 (sax, violin, piano), Quintet (oboe, violin, horn, trombone, piano), Duet for Trombone and Horn and Fantasy for violin premiered in February 2016.

Dr. Ferrandino is active in AP Music Theory teacher training, teaching weeklong courses for twenty years at TCU, and in Philadelphia, Albuquerque, Little Rock, Taos, and Chicago. He has organized and presented at one and two-day workshops at the College Board regional AP Music Theory Conferences. He is lead editor and author of The AP Vertical Teams Guide for Music Theory.

• Oregon Trail (in progress) anthology work in four sections
• Quintet for Violin, Oboe, Horn, Trombone, and Piano Fantasy on “… to turn again” – violin
• Symphony for Violoncelli
• Symphony for Wind Ensemble
• Retrieving the Spirit for Voice, Cello, and Piano
• Sonata in the Form of Four Vocalises for Voice and Piano
• Pomes for Tuba ensemble
• Crucible for Trombone Ensemble
• Song and a Dance for Double Bass and Piano
• AP Vertical Teams Guide for Music Theory
• Core curriculum revision at TCU: How faculty created and are maintaining the TCU core curriculum

• National Merit Scholar
• SAI Composition Contest Winner
• ASCAP award for young composers

• AP Music Theory Instructor and Trainer K – 12 Music education

• ASCAP
• TSMT
• SMT
• CMS
• TMEA
• SACS
• AAUC
• SCI

• Former President TSMT
• Board Member TSMT
• Southwest Region Consultant College Board
• National Math Science Initiative Consultant
• ETS consultant