Paul Kerekes (b.1988) is an undergraduate Piano Performance and Composition student at Queens College. He has attended notable programs such as Stony Brook Summer Music Festival, the Young Artists Piano Program at Tanglewood, and California Summer Music. This summer Paul is looking forward to attending Yale’s New Music Workshop in Norfolk, CT. At Queens College, Paul received the Gabriel Fontrier award for achievement as an undergraduate composer and has had the privilege of hearing his music performed by the Second Instrumental Unit, Stonewall Chorale, and the Mannes Preparatory Division Choir. Additionally, Paul enjoys playing the cello, drawing, and painting. He currently studies piano with Donald Pirone and composition with Bruce Saylor.
In Soliloquy, Aside (2009) I wanted to create a musical texture of two different perspectives happening simultaneously based upon the same material. The piano part is a seven chord chorale that moves through different combinations and voicings while the tenor saxophone’s melody moves primarily in minor thirds. I was influenced a lot by free improvisatory jazz and material from improvisations I did with composer/saxophonist Ed Rosenberg a couple years ago. Special thanks to Bruce Saylor for helping me write the piece and Ed Rosenberg for playing it. (World Premiere)
