Stephen Rush – composer, pianist, author and professor
Professor of Performing Arts Technology
School of Music, Theatre & Dance
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2085
srush@umich.edu
Education
Eastman School of Music Music Composition D.M.A. 1985
Eastman School of Music Music Composition M.M. 1983
Michigan State University Music Theory/Composition B.A. 1981
Appointments
•University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Professor of Performing Arts Technology 1987 to present
(including appointments in Music Composition, Theory, Jazz and Dance)
•Oklahoma State University
Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition 1985-1987
•William Carey College (Hattiesburg, MS)
Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition 1984-1985
Selected Creative & Professional Activity
Books
Rush, Stephen and Hamilton, Reid (2008). Better Get It In Your Soul New York, NY: Church Publishing
Rush, Stephen (2016). Free Jazz, Harmolodics, and Ornette Coleman). New York, NY: Routledge.
-in progress-
Rush, Stephen (2022). Fundamentals of Music Theory: Black, Brown and Beige. New York, NY: Routledge. (a textbook and an exploration of the Fundamentals of Music Theory, taught from a perspective of gender and racial inclusivenss)
Conferences and Lectures:
Conferences presented at Stanford University, University of Illinois, North Texas St. University, Arizona State University, Connecticut College, SUNY-Brockport, Michigan State University, School of Aesthetics and Design in Lucerne (Switzerland), Royal Northern College of England (Manchester), Institute of American Studies (India), IRCAM (Paris)
Selected Recording Credits
Art Ensemble of Chicago 50th Anniversary Project (with AEOC) (2019); conductor; Pi Records, New York, NY.
Chamber Music of Stephen Rush (2019); composer, pianist, with over twenty musicians playing eight original compositions from 1995-2018; Albany Records, Albany, NY.
Launch (2019) – includes original composition “Whirlwind” with Jennifer Ellis (harp) and Jonathan Hulting-Cohen (saxophone) (2019); composer; Albany Records, Albany, NY.
Something Nearby, with Naked Dance (jazz quintet) (2018); Pianist and electronics, original compositions; Leo Records, Devonshire, England.
Listening Beam Five with Chris Peck and Jon Moniaci (2018); Pianist and electronics; Innova Records, St. Paul, MINN.
Four Ways, Roscoe Mitchell with Yuganaut. (2017); Pianist, Trombonist, composer; Nessa Records, Whitehall, MI.
Jazz Piano Concerto (2016); Pianist/composer; Envoi Recordings,
Ann Arbor, MI.
Concierto Brasiliera , Clarinet Concerto With Richard Stolzman and the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra (2013); Composer; MMC Recordings, Boston, MA.
Numbers, 8-8-88 Composition by Roscoe Mitchell (2012). Pianist; Rogue Records, Paris, France.
Escape Beam 3, Crystal Moon Cone, with Chris Peck and Jon Moniaci (2012); Pianist and electronics; Deep Listening Records, Woodstock, NY.
Digital Music Ensemble with Pauline Oliveros (surround-sound DVD) (2011); Conductor and Performer; Deep Listening Records, Woodstock, NY.
Escape Beam 4 with Crystal Moon Cone, with Chris Peck and Jon Moniaci (2012); Pianist and electronics; Deep Listening Records, Woodstock, NY.
This Musicship (with Yuganaut- Jazz Trio), (2008); Composer, performer; ESP-Disk’, New York, NY.
Randalog for electronic tape (2000); Composer; Centaur Recordings, Boston, MA.
Possession with Warsaw Symphony Orchestra (1997); Composer; MMC Records, Boston, MA.
Rebellion with members of the New York Philharmonic (1996); Composer; CALA Records, London, England.
Collaborations and International programs
“Sonification of Sleep Data” (Mayo Clinic) – Sonfication with digital audio modules – of EEG, EKG, Pulse and Nasal sleep data as a means for increasing acuity and diagnostics for sleep patients; in collaboration with Dr.’s Kara Dupuy-McCauley and Timothy Morganthaler of the Mayo Clinic with Greg Syrjala (Engineer/Musician)
“Summer Program in India” – taking students to India for one month each summer since 2005 (over 140 students); immersive study in music/dance/yoga in Mysore, India.
“World Without Ice” – multisensory experience/installation with original composition written by Stephen Rush, whose patterns and structure are derived from 120 years of climate data; ice-melt actuated instrument created by 10 ice domes melting onto drums created by Michael Gould in collaboration with Nobel prize-winning physicist Henry Pollack.
“Dark Matter” (original compositions with projected video)- Performances at Living Arts Center, Tulsa, OK and in England and China (exhibits); installation ran for 1 month; project with visual artist Jim Cogswell and physicists Brian Noble (Fermi Labs) and Greg Tarlê; LP and DVD productions.