Carl Witt recieved his Doctor of Musica Arts Degree in 1988 from the Eastman School of Music. He moved to the Twin Cities in 1988, drawn by the region's rich and varied cultural life. Since that time, Witt has been involved in many areas of the musical community. He is very active in the performance of chamber music of the 18th through 20th centuries, performing regularly with members of both Minnesota Orchestra and SPCO. He has recorded with members of the orchestra, including works by Peter Schickele and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski. He performs regularly with Minnesota orchestra Co-principal Flutist Barbara Leibundguth, who commissioned the DUO for Flute and Piano. Leibundguth and Witt, whose first performance together took place in St. Olaf's Urness Recital Hall, premiered the work during their Fall 1996 tour, which culminated in a private lessons with Pierre Boulez of the Boulez Sonatine. These and other works will be featured on a compact disc to be released in 1998. The DUO was selected for performance during the Upper Midwest Flute Association's Flute Forum in 1997, and for the 1998 National Flute Convention in Phoenix.
The theater has been the focus of much of Witt's activities. He has served as Assistant Conductor and keyboardist for several productions with the Minnesota Opera including Where the Wild Things Are, Frankenstien, My Fair Lady and Towers of the Moon, and as Music Director for the Opera's portable production of Phantom of the Opera. He served as keyboardist for Corn Palace Theater in their prodeuction of Mirabelle's Book of Numbers and was commissioned by the company for Rings Ringing, a work for choreographed handbell players. He worked with Opera Millennium on their production of Goddess Songs.. In the world of dance theater, Witt has collaborated with Flying Sisters Theatre and was commissioned by the Walker Art Center for a work with choreographer Wynn Fricke. The pair's evening length work, Le Carceri, will be presented in 1998. Witt was a participant in the 1995 Choreographer/Composer workshop, so-sponsored by the American Composers Forum and the Minnesota Dance Alliance.
The son of a harpsichord builder and a veteran continuo player, he has worked as composer and harpsichordist with Musica da Camera and the Lyra Concert. His 'Cello Concerto, commissioned by the Lyra Concert and conducted by Witt, was featured during that ensemble's 1991-92 season. He has a long relationship with the University of St. Thomas, beginning with the commission of an anthem for the UST Liturgical Choir. He served as Adjunct Professor of Music Theory during the school's 1992-93 season.
Current projects include songwriting with playwright/director Ben Kreilkamp, and a concerto for Minnesota Orchestra Principal Trumpeter, Manny Laureano. His writings on music have been published nationally under the auspices of the American Composers Forum. He has studied T'ai Chi for several years with Robert Larsen, and the Alexander Technique with Elizabeth Garrin, both disciplines having a profound impact on his composing, performing, and teaching.
Email Carl
Witt
315 Ball Park Road
Sewanee, TN 37375
Tel: 931 598 9007