Allan Gilliland

Allan Gilliland, a contemporary Canadian composer, was born on January first, nineteen sixty-five. He moved to Canada in nineteen seventy-two, settling in Edmonton, Alberta, where he honed his musical talents. Gilliland received a diploma in Jazz Studies with a focus on trumpet from Humber College, followed by degrees in performance and composition from the University of Alberta. His education was enriched by the guidance of esteemed teachers such as Violet Archer, Malcolm Forsyth, and Howard Bashaw.

Throughout his career, Gilliland has composed a diverse array of music for various ensembles, including solo instruments, orchestras, choruses, brass quintets, wind ensembles, big bands, as well as for film, television, and theatre. His works have been performed by notable organizations such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, ProCoro Canada, the Canadian Brass, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the New York Pops, and the brass section of the New York Philharmonic.

From nineteen ninety-nine to two thousand four, Gilliland served as Composer in Residence with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, during which he created nine major works, including concerti for violin and two harps. Among his most celebrated compositions is 'Dreaming of the Masters I,' a jazz concerto for clarinet soloist James Campbell, which premiered in America by the Boston Pops in two thousand four.

His subsequent works, including 'Dreaming of the Masters II - GEB,' a jazz rhapsody for piano and orchestra, and 'Dreaming of the Masters III,' a three-movement jazz suite for trumpet and orchestra, have also garnered acclaim. The former premiered on February twenty-second, two thousand eight, while the latter debuted on September seventeenth, two thousand ten. Additionally, his orchestral piece 'On the Shoulders of Giants' won first prize at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's Composers Competition in two thousand two.

In two thousand seven, Arktos Recordings Limited released 'Collaborations,' a CD dedicated exclusively to Gilliland's music, featuring tracks such as 'The Winspear Fanfare' and 'Concerto for Oboe, Strings and Harpsichord.' Currently, he holds the position of Chair of the Music Program and Head of the Composition Department at MacEwan University in Edmonton.