Profile

Guitarist, composer and improviser, Dan Cosley travels a multifaceted career path. Cosley's work includes recordings, performances and compositions in a wide variety of contexts. Recent concerts include the premiere of his Concerto for Guitar, solo concerts in Italy by invitation of the Rome Festival, the world première of Roland Dyens’ Soleils Levants, and numerous concerts in Japan.

Born in the United States in 1979, Cosley began as an electric guitarist. A precocious improviser, Cosley was soon drawn to jazz and free-improvisation. His academic pursuit of music led to the completion of a Master’s degree in classical guitar performance from the University of Denver where he studied guitar and composition with Ricardo Iznaola and served as Iznaola's teaching assistant. He has also participated in numerous masterclasses including those of composer Samuel Adler, and cellist Alban Gerhardt.

Cosley currently resides in Tokyo, Japan where he continues his work in classical music performance and composition while pursuing a variety of collaborations in other styles. In 2010, he was the first foreign-born guitarist elected to the Japan Guitar Ensemble Association's board of directors. From Bach lute music to avant-garde free-improvisation and electric guitar session work, Cosley is of a rare breed of musicians for whom versatility and excellence are not mutually exclusive attributes.

Dan's compositions are available worldwide through Canadian publisher Les Productions d'OZ.



Selected Performances

. World premiere of Roland Dyens' Soleils Levants with Ensemble OZ and the composer as conductor. (Tokyo, 2008)
. Japan Guitar Ensemble Association Gala Concert (Concertmaster for Tokyo Guitar Ensemble, 2008)
. Solo Concerts (Fukuoka, Japan, 2007)
. Up Close Avant, (Concert series organized by Creative Music Works, Denver, 2006)
. En Mis Palabras, an opera by Roger Ames (Premiered and toured with the Central City Opera, 2005-2006)
. Premiere of Concerto for Guitar (Denver, 2005)
. U.S.A Premiere of Gilbert Biberian’s Rose Garden (Denver, 2005)
. Premiere of Jessica Mays’ Suite for Guitar (Denver, 2005)
. Lamont School of Music Concerto Competition Orchestral Performance, First Prize (Denver, Colorado 2004)
. Rome Festival (Solo concerts in Rome, Italy 2002)


Recordings

. Ensō, with guitarist Nathan Kolosko (2009)
. Midwestern Hieroglyphs V. 2, The Mandala Duo with violinist Steve Lovinger (2009)
. Midwestern Hieroglyphs V. 1, The Mandala Duo with violinist Steve Lovinger (2008)
. Scenes from Ellis Island, by Benjamin Verdery (Recording with Tokyo Guitar Ensemble, 2008)
. Circle Music, Solo electric guitar. (2007)
. The Mandelbrot Set, The Mandala Duo with violinist Steve Lovinger. (2006)
. Opus Zero, Opus Zero, Electric guitar and co-production on songwriter Seth Jeremy’s debut CD. (2005)
. Martin Luther King Jr. Suite, with guitarist-composer Nathan Kolosko. (2004)
. Middletown, Adam Beck, Guitars on all tracks. (2000)
. Seneca Cayson Studios, Session work with various artists. (2000-2001)
. Studio and live recordings with rock band Nat Love. (1996-2006)


Selected Compositions

. Ensō for guitar duo (2009) Publisher: Les Productions d'OZ
. Water Strider for 4 guitars (2008) Publisher: Les Productions d'OZ
. Dark Match for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (2007)
. Etudes for Guitar (2006-2007)
. Concerto for Guitar (2005)
. Permanent Midnight II for guitar and flute (2004)
. Permanent Midnight for piano (2003)
. Green Sound for solo guitar (2001)


Education

. Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance, University of Denver. (2005) Studied guitar primarily with Ricardo Iznaola, and also with Jonathan Leathwood and Masakazu Ito. Studied composition with William Hill.
. Composition studies with Sam Adler (2005)
. Bachelor’s Degree in Music, Clarke College. (2002) Studied guitar with Jaime Guiscafré and composition with Amy Dunker.
. Master classes with many artists including cellist Alban Gerhardt. (1999-2005)


Awards / Associations

. 2010 Elected to the board of directors for the Guitar Ensemble Association of Japan
. 2005 Ricardo Iznaola Scholarship
. 2005 Graduate Recital of Distinction (Lamont School)
. 2005 Awarded lifetime membership to Pi Kappa Lambda
. 2003-2004 Lamont Conservatory Concerto Competition, First Prize Winner
. 2002 Walter & Kathryn Dunham Fine Arts Award
. 2002 Virginia Gaume Music Award for Excellence in Performance
. 2002 Eliza Kelly Music Award for Academic Excellence
. Won international audition and scholarship for participation in Rome Festival 2002
. Composed and performed soundtrack for the film Destination, winner in the 1997 Iowa Film Festival