Seale, Carl
Biography
Born: April 30, 1936
Country: Texas, U.S.A.
Studies:
Teachers: William Latham, Martin Mailman, Merril Ellis
The 1996 winning composition of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association Composition Contest, “The Flight of Icarus” was composed by Carl Seale of McAllen, Texas. Seale is a recently retired Professor of Music at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg. Since 1972 he has been Music Director/Conductor of the Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorale. He was awarded Professor Emeritus by the University of Texas-Pan American and Conductor Emeritus by the Valley Symphony Orchestra of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Seale received his Doctor of Musical Arts in composition from the University of North Texas, his Master of Music from the University of Louisville, and his Bachelor of Music from Baylor University. He has worked as high school orchestra director for the Denton and Edinburg, TX Public Schools. From 1961-67 he was head band director at Harlingen, TX High School. He taught at UT-Pan American from 1971.to 2001. He achieved the rank of full professor. Seale has composed works in a variety of idioms including orchestra and chorus, band, opera, ballet, symphonic orchestra, chamber orchestra, string orchestra, instrumental solos and ensembles and choral works including two cantatas for the Christmas season. He has appeared as guest conductor with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra and the Mexican state orchestras of Guanajuato, Nuevo Leon and Michoacan and has conducted the VSO and other orchestras in the Mexican cities of Monterrey, Guanajuato, Salamanca, Morelia, Victoria, Tampico, Saltillo and Reynosa. He has also served as clinician\conductor for numerous school bands and orchestras in Texas, Kentucky and Indiana. He served as music director for the First Presbyterian Church of McAllen, Tx. for twenty three years, during which time he composed and arranged numerous works for volunteer church choir. Seale’s symphonic work “Symphony for Friends: A Farewell” was performed by the Valley Symphony Orchestra on May 11, 2001 when Seale conducted his final concert as Music Director of the Valley Symphony Orchestra. In November, 2001 he fulfilled a commission for the Valley Land Fund which is a multimedia work featuring a showing of wildlife of the Rio Grande delta. Seale worked with his eldest son, Ansen Seale of San Antonio who prepared the visual aspect of the work. Seale has titled the work “Jewels of A Land Alive. It was premiered on November 6 at UT-Pan American under the direction of Seale’s successor Maestro Peter Dabrowski. Upon his retirement Seale was honored to be granted the status of Conductor Emeritus by the Valley Symphony Orchestra and Professor Emeritus by the University of Texas-Pan American.[1]
Works for Percussion
Eight-Hand Etude – Percussion Quartet
Suite for Flute, Clarinet, and Percussion – Multiple Percussion; Flute; Clarinet
Toxcatl: The Celebration of the 5th Month – Percussion Sextet; Synthesizer
References