J.J. Swift
is
known for her versatility as a composer, orchestral conductor, performing artist, and music educator. She is the founder of
Tundradogs Music Publishing.
The compositions of J.J. Swift,
which range from solo and chamber music to full symphony orchestra and choral
works, have been performed across the country and have won popularity among
performers as well as audiences. Primarily tonal and melodic, her style is
most often compared to Copland, having a similar influence of American folk
tunes. Among her commissioned works, most notable are "Heart in the Forest",
a six movement symphonic suite commissioned by Maestra Apo Hsu, who not only
premiered this work, but later conducted
it at the Aspen Music Festival; and "InDream",
an art song cycle commissioned by soprano Carolyn Finley, which won an
honorable mention from Robert Ward in the 1992 NATS National Composition
Competition; "Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra", commissioned
by Rita Knuesel; and "Festival of Carols", an arrangement of favorite
Christmas carols composed for choir, orchestra, and audience sing-along
and commissioned by the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra and
St. John’s Boys’ Choir. J.J. Swift’s
Sonata
for Violin and Piano,
commissioned by
Paul Carlson,
who also premiered it at William Woods College, is currently available from Tundradogs. Look for
the others in the future.
Her
career in viola performance has been extensive. She has been Principle Viola
with numerous ensembles, including the St. Cloud
Symphony, the
Southeast Kansas Symphony, Amadeus, the Central Minnesota
Chamber Orchestra, the St. John's Baroque Orchestra, the Heartland Symphony,
as well as with several smaller ensembles such as "Eclectasy" and the
Northeast Chamber Players. She was a member of the
Baton Rouge Symphony
Orchestra under the baton of Maestro James Paul, and also
performed with the Baton Rouge Opera. Ms. Swift has concertized as a solo
artist and chamber musician. She has performed with members of the Minnesota
Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
A
recipient of the Christine Rehwaldt Music Scholarship, Ms. Swift graduated
Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance from St.
Cloud State University. She earned her Master of Music degree in Music Theory
and Composition from Pittsburg State University (KS), graduating with honors.
She furthered her studies at the doctoral level at Louisiana State University
and the University of Minnesota. J.J. Swift’s primary composition teachers
include Paul Fetler,
Dinos Constantinides,
and
John G. MacKay Jr. She also studied music
theory and composition with Richard Cook, Roger
Barrett, Ronald C. Dishinger, Thomas Wegrin, and Ruth Van Appledorn.
She studied viola with Jerzy Kosmala, Mary Elliott James,
Alice Preves, James R. Johnson,
Ann C. Anderson, and John Tartaglia. Her viola was made for her by Arnold Anderson. She studied orchestral conducting with
Carolann Martin
and
Duilio Dobrin. She also studied with David McKenzie at an orchestral
conducting workshop at the University of Northern Colorado. Ms. Swift has
attended or participated in Master Classes of such renowned artists as Libby
Larsen, John Cage, Lillian Fuchs, Walter Trampler, Josef Gingold, Dorothy
DeLay, Andre Granat, and Joel Revzen, among many others, including a workshop
with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Henry Charles Smith.
For several years, J.J.
Swift was a faculty member at the College of St. Benedict, St. John’s
University, where as head of the string department she taught applied violin
and viola, string techniques, music theory, as well as conducting the CSB/SJU
Orchestra. She also held a faculty position at Central Lakes Community
College, teaching strings and piano.
Besides her
career
as a college instructor, Ms. Swift actively maintained private studios in St.
Cloud, Brainerd, and Onamia Minnesota. Her students excelled in state and
regional contests as well as in All State Orchestra. J.J. Swift has been
sought out as a clinician, adjudicator, guest performer, and guest conductor.
She has worked in orchestral management, music copying, and free-lance
performance.
J.J. Swift has
received many honors and awards: Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Beta Lambda National Music
Honor Society, Outstanding
Young Women of America award, National Dean’s List, as well as several scholastic
achievement awards. She was certified a Master Teacher by the
Minnesota Music Teachers’ Association. She is listed in Who’s Who in
America. She has won competitions in both composition and performance.
Throughout her career, Ms. Swift has held membership in several music
organizations such as the American String Teachers Association, American
Society of University Composers, Minnesota Music Teachers Association, and the Minnesota Composers’ Forum.
She is currently a member of
ASCAP.
In 1995, J.J. Swift
retired from teaching and performing activities when a medical
crisis permanently left her physically disabled. As her health
allows, she still continues her involvement with music through composition and
in the creation of Tundradogs Music Publishing. She and her husband Curt
Lukens enjoy a quiet country home near Onamia,
Minnesota.
