Brian Schappals is a composer and clarinetist entering the Master’s of Music in Clarinet Performance program at University of Washington. He graduated from Whitworth University in May of 2017 with Bachelor’s degrees in Clarinet Performance and Music Composition.
Brian is active in regional performance competitions, such as MusicFest Northwest’s Young Artist division. In 2015, Brian won Whitworth University’s concerto competition and performed Debussy’s “Premiere Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra” with the Whitworth Symphony Orchestra. He is also an active composer of contemporary classical music.
While specializing in compositions for clarinet, Brian is well-versed in composing for a variety of ensembles, including orchestra, electro-acoustic pieces, and choral works. In 2016, Brian won Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble’s “Undergraduate Choral Composition Competition” award. His composition, “Lonely Dreams”, was premiered in Seattle on May 21, 2016 by Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble.
Brian has also received commissions for compositions from two professors at Whitworth University and two students. Some of his primary influences in his composing are Olivier Messiaen, Francis Poulenc, Igor Stravinsky, and Dmitri Shostakovich.