Headshot of Todd Coleman

Todd Coleman

Associate Professor of Music

Department: Music

Office and address: Elon West-406 W. Haggard Ave., Office 178 2815 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Phone number: (336) 278-5679

Professional Expertise

Music Composition, Electric Bass, Double Bass, Music Production

Brief Biography

Todd Coleman is a composer and video artist who works in the contemporary "Classical" concert music tradition, but whose works increasingly defy simple categorizations. Recent compositions have incorporated visual elements of multiple projected layers of digital video interwoven with live performers and immersive surround digital audio, blending studio recording and film scoring techniques with prerecorded electronic music and live sound. Coleman has a strong background in technology and the arts, with many commissions and jobs which blur the boundaries between creative disciplines.

Coleman earned his Bachelor of Music degree in composition from Brigham Young University, winning a number of awards and commissions for his work. He went on to study composition and double bass performance at the famed Eastman School of Music on a prestigious Jackno Fellowship, earning his Doctorate in 2002. His composition teachers included Joseph Schwantner, Christopher Rouse, Augusta Read Thomas and David Liptak, and he studied double bass with James VanDemark. During that time he received awards for his orchestral and chamber music as well as several commissioned works.

Coleman is an associate professor of music at Elon University in North Carolina where he coordinates the Music Technology program. Prior to coming to Elon, Coleman taught at Grinnell College for four years.

News & Notes

Education

Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship
2004-2007 - Grinnell College

DMA - Music Composition & Double Bass Performance
2002 - Eastman School of Music

MM - Music Composition & Double Bass Performance
1999 - Eastman School of Music

BM - Music Composition & Double Bass Performance
1996 - Brigham Young University

Employment History

Associate Professor of Music & Coordinator of Music Production & Recording Arts
(2007 - present) Elon University Department of Music, Elon, North Carolina.

Assistant Professor of Music & Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow
(2003 - 2007) Grinnell College Department of Music, Grinnell, Iowa.

Curricular Technology Specialist for the Arts
(2002 - 2003) Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa.

Courses Taught

  • Introduction to Music Technology
  • Critical Listening
  • Studio Techniques I
  • Studio Techniques II
  • The Art of Songcraft
  • Music Postproduction
  • Survey of Music Business
  • Instrumental & Choral Arranging
  • Introduction to Composition
  • Orchestration
  • Art of Electronic Sound
  • Senior Seminar
  • Counterpoint
  • Music Theory I-IV
  • Aural Skills I-IV
  • Elon Electric Ensemble
  • Applied Composition Lessons
  • Applied Double Bass Lessons
  • Applied Electric Bass Lessons
  • Honors Fellow Mentor
  • College Fellow Mentor

Leadership Positions

Founding Coordinator of Music Production & Recording Arts degree program, Elon University (2007-2019)
Barlow Endowment for Music Composition - Board of Advisors (2010-2015)
Chaired the Religious and Spiritual Life Committee (2009-2010, 2018-2020)
Co-chaired Multifaith Center and Identity Houses Committee (2010-11)

Current Projects

Regular commissions for composing new music for the concert stage, including orchestral music, choral music, and chamber music.

Composing immersive interactive music and sound design for escape rooms.

Skills

Languages

  • Fluent in Laotion
  • Converstant in Thai
  • Conversant in American Sign Language

Software

  • Pro Tools
  • Logic Pro
  • GarageBand
  • Studio One
  • Photoshop
  • Illustrator
  • InDesign
  • Dreamweaver
  • Final Cut Pro
  • Shake
  • Motion

Awards

Commissioned to compose The Arc of Helios and the Celestial Dial for wind ensemble

Commissioned to compose The Phoenix Rising for organ and four horns

Commissioned to compose Numen Lumen for Ciompi Quartet and organ

Commissioned to compose In varietate concordia (Many & One), a celebratory work for Elon presidential gala
Appointed to Barlow Endowment Board of Advisors
Adieu for string orchestra selected for inclusion on the album Patchwork
Commissioned to compose theme song for Elon University's Ever Elon Campaign.
Pulse for Wind Ensemble Commission from MTSU Consortium
Flute Concerto Commissioned by April Clayton and the Barlow Endowment
Exquisite Corpse, Barlow commission for amplified cello, digital audio, & video
Mormoniana, commission for piano and digital audio
Recipient of 2-year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship for research and teaching at Grinnell College
Awarded Belle Gittleman Prize from the Eastman School of Music
Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute Selection
Grand Prize Winner in SibeliusMusic.com $6000 Composing & Arranging Competition for Trees
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: First Hearing Selection for Cryptic Crasis
Finalist in Alexander Zemlinsky International Prize Competition
Awarded Howard Hanson Orchestra Prize from Eastman School of Music 
Won Biannual MENC National Student Composition Contest for Adieu