Daniel Sonenberg | Composer, Musician, and Professor

This is Daniel Sonenberg. He is a composer, musician, and professor at the USM School of Music. I actually first met him when I walked into my Theory IV class back in college. He was new to the area and he has done some great things since his first days on campus including writing an opera and heading up various experimental ensembles for student composers and musicians.

A few years ago we worked together when his opera, The Summer King – An Opera in Two Acts on the Life of Josh Gibson, first premiered here in Portland, Maine. In need of some updated headshots to use for press at the time, I was thrilled to work with him. Well, that opera is being performed again, this time with full staging with the Pittsburgh Opera. If you are in Pittsburgh between April 29th and May 7th, I suggest you check it out. Baseball meets opera.

He writes:

“Writing the Summer King has forced me to overcome my fears about all the different kinds of music I thought I didn’t know how to write. The opera called for so many different styles, all of which had to be synthesized into my own musical voice. Whether it was stride piano, mariachi music, up-tempo jazz, or more traditionally operatic bel canto arias, in each case I just went into the workshop with those genres – saturated my ears and my mind with them, and then hoped that something coherent, musical, and mine would emerge on the other end. I suppose I’ll find out in April the extent to which I was successful! 

Seeing this opera have its staged world premiere in the city where the story takes place, where Josh Gibson played his career, and where I always dreamed the opera would land one day, is certain to be the greatest thrill of my life. It is a privilege to be able to share my take on such an important story with the people of Pittsburgh, who should feel rightfully proud of their city’s illustrious history in the world of organized pre-integration black baseball.” – Daniel Sonenberg

Watch the USM School of Music calendar for exciting performances coming up soon. You can visit Dan’s website for more information on this outstanding musician and composer. I wish him all the best with the opera in Pittsburg. Read more in an article from Opera News

“I have finally reach that stage of my life – which I’ve long imagined – where composing is like play time. It is always fun, and always a great process of discovery. When I was younger I think there was a lot more pain in the mix, but perseverance seems to have paid off in the long run.” – Daniel Sonenberg