View Jasper’s complete CV and Repertoire List.
“An exciting, soaring solo by soprano Jasper Sussman crowned this work with unimpeachable aspiration.”
discography
GRAMMY® Nominated, Best Opera Recording
MILHAUD, D.: Orestie d’Eschyle (Chorister): University of Michigan Choirs and Symphony Orchestra. NAXOS.
Two World Premiere Recordings
A Longing for Christmas (Chorister): Sacra/ Profana. Produced by Peter Rutenberg, GRAMMY® Nominee.
“War is the Saddest Word” Child Soloist
JAGER, R.: I Dream of Peace: St. Louis Children’s Choir. NAXOS.
concert / opera video
selected audio
“Aphorisms on Futurism,” by Andrew Seager Cole, SEAMUS CONCERT; McIntosh Theater, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, November 10, 2012
“mother woke me (wake me),” by Jasper Sussman and Alexandria Smith, Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Music Ctr., University of California San Diego, January 1, 2017
Program notes
Aphorisms on Futurism is for Soprano and electronics. It is a setting of about half of Mina Loy's 1914 text by the same name. The work is divided into 4 songs. I chose this text for a because I've always been fascinated by Futurism. It was the first artistic movement to explore noise, machines, speed, and a host of other issues that reflect modern life, and thus reflects many of the ideas of electronic music. I'm also struck by the tone of futurism and this text. While none of the philosophical ideas were particularly new, there is an aggressiveness and lack of respect for the past that resonates with me, provided I do not take it too seriously. I think futurism created wonderful art and horrible politics. Musically, I tried to reflect this.
Multimedia Collaborations
Choreographer: Marlene Skog, Assistant Professor of Dance, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Performers: Janelle Bentley, Liz Sexe, Taylor Kiesow, Jade Ortiz, Sarah Schwab, & McKenzie Wisdom
Artists Statement (by Marlene Skog): Dionysian Sea finds grace within a world of conflict. The dance suggests a world that invites chaos and conflict, yet falls to order. The score is inspired by a historical percussion score written in 1938 for modern dance practice. The new score musically bridges the past to the present. The dance, a contemporary ballet, weaves ballet foundation with modernist expressionism, bridging two forms that were disparate dance genres in 1938. The music and dance investigation finds its roots in early 20th Century western dance tradition, creating a new artistic expression in contemporary times. This work was made possible by generous support from the Virginia Henry Horne Fund.
Performance History: Yellow Barn Community Center, Ann Arbor, MI - November 23, 2013
The Suburban Piano Quartet (SPQ) is a new performance ensemble comprised of Nadine Dyskant-Miller, Clay Gonzalez, Perry Maddox, and Corey Smith. They are dedicated to creating multi-media performance situations that draw upon our training as classical composers and performers but that also incorporate elements of movement, creative writing, improvisation, and installation.
national Puppetry Conference
I was chosen as one of two music participants for the 2014 National Puppetry Conference, an event held annually at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. The conference featured several puppetry works-in-progress, including those below, which are a selection of the projects I provided musical scores for. I performed all vocal parts live, as well as an assortment of other instrument parts like snare drum and melodica.
Improvisation highlights
[World Premiere] “Improvisation” by Jasper Sussman. a&k Recital: Conrad Prebys Music Center Experimental Theater - La Jolla, CA
[World Premiere] “thin places” by James May. The Passions: N.E.O. (New Explorative Oratorio) Voice Festival - Los Angeles, CA
“Improvisation,” D^Sus,G’sUsIs (Band Leader). 1-Hour Improvisation Concert: International Society for Improvised Music 24-Hour Concert - Ann Arbor, MI
During the summer of 2016, I spent a few weeks in Big Sky, MN singing as an Alto Vocal Fellow with The Crossing. The experience was pretty incredible, but the highlight for me was probably finding this concrete tunnel leading from the resort to the carport.