Praised as “haunting and beautiful” and “a musical standout,” the compositions of baritone and composer Joel Balzun continue to receive performances and recognition worldwide. Recent performances include those at New York City’s Merkin Hall, the Kennedy Center, and as a part of competition and recital programs in the USA and Europe. He was a multiple prize-winner in the SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers, after winning top prizes the Dallas Winds’ “Call for Fanfares”, tbe Classical Marimba League International Composition Competition and the National Broadcast Orchestra’s Galaxie Rising Star Composers’ Competition, in which he won both the Young Composers Prize and the Grand Prize. He has also been named a finalist for the prestigious ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Awards. He has been a guest presenter and composer at the CBDNA and CFAMC National Conferences, as well as at the NATS Cal-West Regional Conference.
Mr. Balzun’s music has been performed in Canada, the United States, Costa Rica, Denmark, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, by ensembles such as Alberta Winds, Calgary Civic Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, CCM Wind Orchestra, Dallas Winds, Eastman Wind Orchestra, the National Broadcast Orchestra of Canada, La Orquestra Vientos de Costa Rica, and Windago. Additional performances include those by Cadillac Moon Ensemble, Standing Wave Ensemble, and such luminary soloists as Corey Hamm and Megan Moore. His music has been broadcast on CBC Radio 2 and Espace Musique. A selection of Mr. Balzun’s music is currently published by C. Alan Publications, Lovebird Music and NewMusicShelf. He is an active member of ASCAP, CFAMC and SOCAN.