Joseph Eidson

Although he enjoys writing for all mediums, Dr. Eidson’s current artistic output centers on composing for wind ensemble and for the voice. Recent works include a song cycle using the poetry of Christian Morgenstern, two choral pieces, and a wind ensemble work inspired by a recent NASA mission to study a comet. While a majority of his output is for live performers, an ongoing project utilizes technology to create music using the sounds and methods of video game composers during the 1980s and early 1990s. Known as chiptunes, these short pieces are varied in style and substance, each containing unique challenges limited only by imagination and software design. Many of the tracks are featured on the Quirky Minecraft web series on YouTube, and will be included on a digital album released in the fall.
His music has received awards and recognition from the Missouri Civic Orchestra, Vox Novus, the Metropolitan Wind Symphony 40th Anniversary Competition, 2010 ASCAP Morton Gould Award (finalist), 2010 Opera Vista Festival (semifinalist), Aurora Borealis Duo Composition Contest, Dallas Wind Symphony fanfare competition, Music09 Competition (honorable mention), ASCAP / CBDNA Frederick Fennell award for concert band (honorable mention), the Penn State trombone choir composition competition, the George Lawner Award and a Thomas Presser scholarship both from the University of Kansas.

Joseph Eidson holds degrees in composition from the University of Kansas (DMA, BM) and the University of Texas (MM), studying composition with Dan Welcher, James Barnes, Donald Grantham, and Forrest Pierce. Active as a composer and educator, Dr. Eidson is a member of the music faculty ofthe Sunderman Conservatory at Gettysburg College, with previous teaching appointments at Bucknell University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Texas.