Corey Cunningham – Guitar / Clarinet / Sax
Corey Cunningham received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin, where his primary composition teachers were Donald Grantham, Russell Pinkston, and Yevgeniy Sharlat. Before that, he received his Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he studied with Ethan Wickman, and his Master of Music degree from The University of Michigan, where his primary teachers were Michael Daugherty and Kristin Kuster, with further studies in electronic music with Evan Chambers. He is a composer and multi-instrumentalist whose music covers a wide range of styles and genres, and includes both acoustic and electronic works. He has been a featured composer at the Mise-en Music Festival, the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Electronic Music Midwest, the SEAMUS National Conference, and the highSCORE Contemporary Music Festival. His works have been performed and recorded by Austin-based ensembles Hear No Evil, the Kraken Quartet, and Tetractys New Music.
In addition to composing, Corey is also an active performer on both saxophone and guitar. As a guitarist, he has been particularly active in performing new music, premiering the works of several young composers, as well as performing with The University of Texas New Music Ensemble and with Density512. As a saxophonist, he has toured and recorded professionally with groups such as the Twin Cities-based vocal ensemble Five By Design, and gospel artist Tonia Hughes. Corey was also a member of the nationally renowned UW-Eau Claire Jazz Ensemble I, named the 2010 “Best Collegiate Jazz Ensemble” by Downbeat Magazine.