BIO Dr. Allen McCullough, b.1978, is an award-winning composer currently on the music faculty at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. He has composed extensively for the piano, for voice, and has several entries in the string quartet genre; he has also written for full orchestra, having composed both a concerto for piano and orchestra and a symphony in five movements. He has been commissioned by the Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society, Chamber Music Yellow Springs, the Eakins Vocal Consort of Philadelphia, and the Lotte Lehman Foundation; he has procured grants from the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, among other organizations. He has collaborated with internationally recognized artists and ensembles, including Yekwon Sunwoo - pianist and 2017 Van Cliburn gold medalist, Josef Spacek - violin soloist and concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Kathleen Kelly - renowned conductor, vocal coach, and collaborative pianist, Anne Jennifer Nash - accomplished American soprano, frequent collaborator, and champion of new music, the Aeolus and Harlem String Quartets, among others. He has earned three post-graduate degrees in musical composition, with his terminal degree (Ph.D.) in composition from the University of Pennsylvania.
NOTABLE & RECENT COMMISSIONS/COLLABORATIONS: Sonata for Cello and Piano (c.2021) for Margot Marlatt - commissioned by TCMS; Sonata for Viola and Piano (c.2019) for Amy Brandfonbrener; Piano Sonata No.2 (c.2016) | Composed for Dr. Matt Bengtson (www.mattbengtson.com) - Assistant Professor of Music (keyboard), University of Michigan | Premiered February 19 2017, Purdue University ; String Quartet No.3 (c.2015) | Composed for the Aeolus Quartet (www.aeolusquartet.com) | Premiered Dec.7, 2015, Purdue University; The Blue Symphony (a song cycle; c.2014) | Mvt. II Commissioned by the Lotte Lehman Foundation (2007) | Composed for Dr. Anne Jennifer Nash, Associate Professor of Voice, Concordia College | Premiered February 6, 2016, Concordia College (Christiansen Recital Hall - complete cycle) with Stephen Sulich, piano (www.stephensulich.com) ; Edgar Allan Poe Song Cycle (c.2004; rev.2007) | Composed for Dr. Robin Rice, Associate Professor of Voice, The Ohio State University | Premiered by Dr. Jonathan Lasch, (www.uzanartists.com/portfolio/jonathan-lasch/) Music Faculty, Wayne State University, February 6, 2016, Concordia College with Stephen Sulich, piano; String Quartet No.2 (c.2012) | Commissioned by Chamber Music Yellow Springs (2012) | Composed for the Daedalus Quartet (www.daedalusquartet.com) | Premiered by the Aeolus Quartet April 14, 2013, Yellow Springs, OH; String Quartet No.1 (c.2004) | Premiered by the Harlem Quartet (Mvt.III), (www.harlemquartet.com) March 17, 2012 Antioch University; Legends and Tales (c. 2010) for solo piano | Composed for Elizabeth Pridgen, (Piano Chair McDuffie Center for Strings; Artistic Director Atlanta Chamber Players) | Premiered November 16, 2010, Mercer University; Choir Book 1: Requiems (c.2007) | Commissioned by the Eakins Vocal Consort of Philadelphia - Tim Ribchester, director (www.timribchester.com) | Premiered 2007, (selected movements performed in multiple venues) Philadelphia, PA; Winter Sketches (for solo piano; c.2002) | Premiered by Yekown Sunwoo (Gold Medalist, the Van Cliburn Competition 2017) November 16, 2008
LINKS TO RECORDINGS > Piano Sonata No.2 https://soundcloud.com/allen-mccullough-951288679/piano-sonata-2 Matt Bengston, piano > String Quartet No.3 https://soundcloud.com/allen-mccullough-951288679/string-quartet-no3 The Aeolus Quartet > 12 Preludes for Piano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqBMPhTKxXA David Henry, piano > The Way Home and Other Songs for High Voice (poetic text by Franz Kafka) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReuOXQ72lv4 Helen Allen, soprano; Elizabeth Pridgen, piano > Legends and Tales (for solo piano) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnU1m1d5Bog Elizabeth Pridgen, piano