Travis Jeffords
Education
M.M. Music Composition
University of Texas in Austin, Texas Thesis: Composition, Shot in the Dark
Graduated May ’09 GPA: 3.9
B.M. Music Theory
Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas Senior Project: Lecture/Recital of Original Compositions
Graduated Magna Cum Laude May ’07 GPA: 3.9
Academic Grants/Awards/Honors
2nd place - Iron Composer Competition, Analog Arts Ensemble ‘09
1st place - Austin Civic Orchestra Composition Competition ‘09
National Music Honor Society Pi Kappa Lambda ‘09
Grinnell Area Arts Council Grant - Tiny Circus ‘09
NEA/Texas Commission of the Arts and City of Austin Cultural Arts Division Grant ‘08
Kent Kennan Memorial Scholarship, University of Texas ‘07-‘09
2nd Place - San Jacinto and Athelean Literary Societies Short Story Contest ‘07
Southwestern University Senior Leadership Award Nominee ‘07
Meyer Prize, Top Senior Composer at Southwestern University ‘07
Finalist - Renee B. Fisher Composer Awards for 2008 & 2009 ‘07
National College Honor Society Phi Beta Kappa ‘07
Principal Cellist, Southwestern University Orchestra ‘06-‘07
Finalist - ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards ‘06
King Creativity Grant, Southwestern University ‘06
National College Honor Society Alpha Chi ‘05
National Scholar Award, Southwestern University ‘03-‘07
Southwestern University Dean’s List ‘03-‘07
Engraving/Arranging
Engraving: Prof. Peter Smith, Notre Dame. Publication forthcoming through Indiana University Press ‘10
Engraving: Prof. Bruce Pennycook, University of Texas ‘09
Engraving: Sterling M. Allen, A&M United Methodist Church ‘09
Arranging: Tchaikovsky’s Melodie and Valse Sentimental performed at TCU CelloFest ‘09
Engraving/Arranging: Austin Classical Guitar Society and guitarcurriculum.com ‘08-‘09
Helped to launch an online international pedagogical system for teaching classical guitar in an ensemble format. Composed original pieces, exercises, sight-reading examples, and worksheets, created educational arrangements for various skill levels, and created a unified engraving system for all pieces in the curriculum.
Performance Experience
Cellist, Balmorhea mid-west tour ‘10
Director of Worship/Band Leader for The Open Door ‘09-‘10
Cellist, Gamma-UT Conference ‘09
Cellist, Wet Ink Concert Series ‘08
Cellist, University of Texas University Orchestra ‘08
Cellist, University of Texas Symphony Orchestra ‘07-‘08
Cellist, Austin Civic Orchestra ‘07
Principal Cellist, Southwestern University Orchestra ‘06-‘07
Lead worship music for Liquid and Vox Veniae ‘05-‘09
Cellist/pianist, Composers Collective Concerts, Southwestern University ‘05
Chamber Trio Cellist, Heart of Texas Suzuki Organization Benefit Concert ‘04
Southwestern University Chamber Orchestra ‘03-‘07
Staff, Chamber Trio Cellist, Heart of Texas Suzuki Organization Workshop ‘03-‘07
Cellist, holiday and selected services at Triumphant Love Lutheran Church ‘01-’08
Sketch for Shot in the Dark, Faraway Journal, Volume 2 Issue 3: Spring ‘09
Song - The Ground Shakes with Your Heartbeat, Southwestern University Eco-Village Grant Application Video
Song - The Ground Shakes with Your Heartbeat, ELCA Camp Chrysalis DVD
Self-produced Album - Early Works: A Senior Recital
Self-produced Album - Thanks to Chalman EP
Self-produced Album - Five Stories EP
Self-produced Album - The Earth is Flat EP
Self-produced Album - No Films, Cameras, Lights EP
Cello - E.P. Hall’s album Mommy Crow
Cello -Tim Pearson’s forthcoming album
Cello - Aryn Campbell album The Torturous Delight
Cello - Dorkstar album Commercial Rock
Cello - Manatee album A Sound to Spite the Silence
Cello - Voxtrot Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP, Cult Hero Records
Untitled Short Story - Southwestern University Magazine 2007
College Essay No. 2 - Southwestern University Magazine Vol. CXXVII, No. 2
A Formal Critique and Style Analysis of the Untrained Poet - Southwestern University Magazine Vol. CXXIII
Recent Artistic Collaborations
2009 Created three movement piece The Blue Jar for tape and dancers with choreographer Michelle Stuckey. Received two performances at University of Texas’ Ears, Eyes, and Feet concert.
2009 Composed score for episodes of The Other Histories of the World, a collaborative project with Tiny Circus, whose members engage communities to develop a series of short, stop-motion animated films. The films are projected in public spaces from a vintage airstream trailer which tours the Midwestern United States. The films have been screened at The Museum of Jurassic Technology, Down to Earth Boston, The Anton Arts Center, and The Des Moines Arts Center, and received grants from the Grinnell Area Arts Council.
2008-9 Collaborated with playwright Natalie Goodnow and percussionist Josh Casiano to compose music and perform cello during the theater justice show Muntu, which received grants through the Texas Commission of the Arts and the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, and an award from the National Endowment of the Arts. Muntu received eight performances during the bilingual Latino theater troupe Teatro Vivo’s original production ‘Voces De Vivo: Voces de la Cultura Latina,’ with additional performances including FronteraFest in Austin and TeatroFest in San Antonio.
Musical/Academic Organizations
Alpha Chi
American Composers Forum
ASCAP
Phi Beta Kappa
Pi Kappa Lambda
Society of Composers, Inc.
Musical/Academic Conferences
2009 Gamma-UT Conference, cellist
2008 SCI Region VI Conference, Spirit Descending performed
Adjudication
2008 Composition Judge, 2009 Gamma-UT Conference
Other
Guest Lecturer: Indiana Jacob’s School of Music
Guest Presentation: The Science of Sound, The Magic of the Cello, Not Your Ordinary Charter School, Austin.