D. M. Gardner Music

I am blessed to have had my music, ranging from a cappella, to instrumental, to larger choral & orchestral works, performed internationally at various concerts, festivals, competitions, and recitals by a variety of community and professional organizations to include the Omaha Symphony, Boston Children’s Chorus, Omaha Symphonic Chorus, William Baker Festival Singers, Nebraska Wind Symphony, and various high schools, universities, and community choruses. Recent years have brought exciting new venues, new premieres, new locations and performances around the world.  Perhaps one of the most unexpected highlights was the honor of having my arrangement of "Loch Lomond" performed by the National Youth Choir of Scotland for the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Scottish National Parliament, attended not only by members of parliament, but also Her Majesty The Queen and Prince, now His Majesty the King, Charles.

My goal as a composer is to write deeply introspective, beautifully melodic, moving, and personal music that appeals to a wide range of audiences and performers. My undergraduate studies introduced me to the music of Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, and  performing extensively under his direction, I was heavily influenced by his deeply moving compositional style and use of rich choral textures, each driven by a profound understanding of textual meaning and significance.  Of course, I have been influenced by the music of many composers of many genres whose art has been skillfully conveyed through beautiful melodies that mirror each subtle and overt poetic nuance…from Dvorak to Lauridsen, Rutter, Whitacre and so many more.  I often find my own inspiration for a melody or chord while walking in nature, watching light pierce through stained glass windows on a Sunday morning, or spending time with my family.  My hope is that, through my music, I can express my gratitude for life and share the joy and emotion found in these combined experiences.

 

I believe that the greatest innovation and challenge for the modern composer is not just the creation of something new, but of something unique, accessible, and enduring. I have enjoyed working with local poets and organizations to collaboratively create original works, and whenever possible, I like to rehearse and conduct performances, providing compositional insight and interpretation from the composer’s point-of-view. I have also enjoyed speaking with students and aspiring artists about self-publishing, music composition, and the confident pursuit of musical interests.
 

I have recently turned my compositional focus toward writing music for the church while continuing to write for many venues and expanding my horizons to include performing as an oboist.  Here are just some of the many wonderful opportunities I have had over the years:

- Composer-in-Residence for the Omaha Symphonic Chorus of Nebraska (2018-2024)
- Director of Freedom Voices, an a cappella chamber choir dedicated to the service of military veterans and their families. We performed in over 130 official ceremonies for over 33,000 people to include veterans, family members, DoD personnel, and numerous dignitaries from the highest echelons of the government and military. (2015-2024)
- Adjunct Professor of Music Composition and Theory at Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska (2017 until university closure in 2018).
- Composer-in-Residence for the Bellevue Choral Society of Nebraska (2016-2018)