Award presented for Three Enigmas, a contemporary classical composition written by Bevia
José Beviá, professor of music at County College of Morris (CCM), recently was presented with the 2010 International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition from the National Academy of Music and the Municipal Conservatories of Neapolis and Sykies in Greece.
Beviá received the prize for Three Enigmas, a contemporary classical composition he wrote for the piano duo Ferdiko of New York City.
“I was delighted to receive this prize. It’s an extremely competitive competition and to have my piece selected from so many noteworthy and creative compositions is a real honor,” said Beviá.
Beviá explains that he wrote the composition “to specifically take advantage of the technical and creative talents of Ferdiko,” hich consists of Noriko Suzuki and Ferdy Tumakaka. As recipient of the prize, Beviá will perform his composition at the College Music Society International Conference in Seoul, Korea in July 2011.
A native of Spain, Beviá graduated from the Valencia Conservatory of Music in Valencia, Spain. He then attended Berklee College of Music where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and Florida State University where he earned dual master’s degrees in Music Composition and Jazz Performance and his doctorate in Music Theory and Composition.
His classical, jazz and contemporary compositions and arrangements have been performed around the world by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, The Millennium Jazz Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He has been a composer in residence at the Visby International Centre for Composers in Sweden, and a visiting artist and scholar at the American Academy in Rome. Last year, he released a CD of his contemporary classical music with MSR recordings, featuring the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra.
At CCM, Beviá teaches Music Theory, Electronic Music, Music Appreciation, and Piano, among other courses. He also is director of the County College of Morris Chamber Ensemble.
“What I love about teaching at CCM is that you can really provide students with one-on-one attention,” says Beviá. “You can make a real impact as you help students to grow and develop, and then you get to enjoy their success when they are able to transfer to top schools such as Berklee and New York University and colleges across New Jersey.”