Sydney Guillaume
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Sydney Guillaume | |
|---|---|
| Born | Port-Au-Prince, Haiti |
| Genres | Contemporary Classical |
| Occupations | Composer and conductor |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Website | sydneyguillaume.com |
Sydney Guillaume (born 1981 or 1982) is a Haitian-American composer of contemporary classical music. He is known primarily for his choral compositions.
Sydney Guillaume was born in 1981 or 1982 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.[1] His father, Gabriel Guillaume, is a poet.[1] His mother's name is Marlene.[2] He has two older brothers.[2] Sydney Guillaume began piano lessons at the age of 6.[1] He and his family moved to Miami in 1994 to escape civil instability.[2] He began composing and singing choir in school.[1] Guillaume credits Morten Lauridsen as an early influence.[1] He won a piano scholarship from the Caribbean Music Club at the age of 17.[3]
At the University of Miami, Guillaume studied composition with an emphasis on media writing and production.[1] Guillaume was encouraged in composition by Jo-Michael Scheibe. Guillaume graduated in 2004.[4]
Career
At university, although Guillaume originally wanted to write for film scores, a piece that he composed for the school choir, Calinda, attracted the attention of choral directors who started to commission him for works.[1][2] Seraphic Fire commissioned Guillaume for a piece, Dominus Vobiscum, which premiered in 2007.[2]
Guillaume moved to Los Angeles on or before 2007,[2] where he composed music for films and documentaries for Loyola Productions.[1] In 2013, Guillaume formed a touring sextet where he is conductor and writer.[1]
On or before 2019, Guillaume moved to Portland, Oregon.[5] In 2023, the Portland-based Choral Arts Ensemble performed a concert dedicated to Guillaume's music.[1] Guillaume wrote "A Taste of Freedom," an orchestral and choral piece, with Lloyd Reshard, Jr., which debuted in 2023.[4]
Musical style
Guillaume's choral compositions start with an existing text.[1] Frequently Sydney Guillaume collaborates with his father, Gabriel Guillaume.[1] Many song texts are written in Haitian Creole.[1] Guillaume names Haitian roots music as an inspiration for his work, including the band Boukman Eksperyans, who uses both traditional Haitian rhythms and electric guitar.[1]
Patrick Dupré Quigley said in 2007 that Guillaume's music combined the formal classical form with Caribbean harmonies and rhythms in a genuine way.[2] Patrick De Lyser, musical director of the Choral Arts Ensemble, said "His music is very well-crafted, very rhythmic, sometimes unexpectedly complex and yet accessible as well, so it connects with singers and audience."[1]
Guillaume stated that it is important for him to write parts that are interesting for every voice part and instrument.[1][4]
