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Owen Goldsmith |
Born: October 8, 1932
A native of Texas, he lives in rural Calaveras County, California, where he has been writing music fulltime since 1981. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Air Force, playing on the 13th Air Force soccer team in the Philippines.
Goldsmith graduated magna cum laude from San Francisco State University in 1959, having majored in piano with Vladimir Brenner. As a student, he participated in composers workshop, band, orchestra, choirs, opera productions, and recitals. He was also a reporter for the college newspaper and was a starting forward on the soccer team during his entire college career. In 1965 he received his master's degree in music history and literature, with a concentration in the music of Claudio Monteverdi. His graduate work includes study and performance in Vienna and Venice with Nicolaus Harnoncourt, Denis Stevens, Sir David Willcocks, and Gunther Theuring.
From 1960 to 1979 he taught orchestra, chorus and music theory at the Livermore and Clayton Valley high schools in Concord (CA). For two years he also taught chamber music and piano at Los Medanos College and evening classes for Chabot College.
Goldsmith served the Bay Section of the California Music Educators Association for twelve years as president, adjudication chairman, festival chairman, and editor. In 1994 he was named their Outstanding Music Educator. He has adjudicated northern California music festivals for 34 years, and has served as conductor and clinician for a wide range of musical organizations throughout the state. He is also a life member of the American Choral Directors Association.
More than 100 of his compositions and arrangements have been published by Belwin, Schirmer, Highland/Etling, ECS, Boosey & Hawkes, Presser, Kendor and others. In 1999 his "Desperate Measures" won the NSOA with ASTA Merle J. Isaac Composition Contest. In that same year, his "The Tender Affliction" received third prize in the Americas Vocal Ensemble Composition Contest.
During the 1970's Goldsmith wrote for Keyboard Magazine, contributing articles about Brubeck, Kipnis, Collard, and other prominent figures. He is also a charter member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir, and has performed with them in several European tours including participation in Europa Cantat in 1979, 1982 and 1985.
Publications by Owen Goldsmith