Calloway Cieslak
Conductor, Composer, and Music Teacher
Re-imagining the Symphony.
Re-defining classical writ music.
Bio
Joseph “Calloway” Cieslak grew up in Boise, Idaho, playing and studying piano from a young age. As he grew older, he branched out and began playing guitar, singing in choirs, and arranging and transcribing music. He also quickly came to recognize music as his singular passion and ambition in life.
Calloway moved to New Orleans to study Music Education at Loyola University, and during his seven years in the city, he would branch out further, getting experience playing clarinet and later violin, accompanying colleagues and singers, and writing early compositions. He also began his career in conducting by founding and directing the New Orleans Volunteer Orchestra and the Voices of New Orleans Choir. After graduating cum laude from Loyola, he would go on to teach strings in the St. Tammany public school system for 3 years, gaining a solid grasp of teaching and educational approach. Following his years in New Orleans, Calloway spent two years earning a Master’s in Music Composition from the University of Denver, studying with John Rot, William Hill, and Dr. Leanna Kirchoff.
Currently residing in Denton Texas, Calloway is pursuing a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting at the University of North Texas with Maestro David Itkin.
For a full resumé, click here
Conductor
On the podium
Calloway is a passionate conductor, driven by a love for a deep understanding of a piece of music, what makes it work, and the rich history behind it. With a rep list ranging from Stravinsky to Beethoven to film and video game music, Calloway is also dedicated to music outreach and accessibility in programming. Enthusiastic and experienced, he always enjoys the opportunity to engage with audiences and collaborate with musicians, on and off the podium.
Conducting Experience
2012-2018
New Orleans Volunteer Orchestra
Co-Founder, Co-Director
2015-2018
East St. Tammany Orchestra
Conductor, Co-Teacher
Voices of New Orleans Choir
Founder, Director, Accompanist
2017
River Region Drama Guild
Music Director, Rehearsal Accompanist
USC Summer Conducting Institute
Conducting Fellow
2014
Bard Summer Conducting Institute
Conducting Colleague
Other Conducting Experience:
Farewell Recital ad hoc ensemble (Stravinsky: L'histoire du Soldat): Conductor, May 2018
Jefferson Parish Community Band: Guest Conductor, Spring 2017
St. Charles Avenue Baptist Choir: Guest Conductor, Spring 2017
Senior Recital ad hoc ensemble (Wagner: Siegfried Idyll): Conductor, May 2015
Bishop Kelly Pop Choir: Founder and Director, Spring 2011
Conducting Masterclass, Clinicians, and Teachers include:
Mark Gibson, Harold Farbermann, Apo Hsu, Daniel Bortholossi, Victoria Bond, Donald Portnoy, Peter Jaffe, Sam Jones, Jorge Mester, Meg Frazier, Joe Hebert
Rep List highlights:
Bruch: Double Concerto for Viola & Clarinet
Faure: Requiem
Joe Hisaishi: Selections from Studio Ghibli Soundtracks (arr. Cieslak)
Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto in A minor
Vivaldi: Gloria
Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Composer
New Sounds
Composing has long been an interest for Calloway, an organic outgrowth of his background in improvisation and arranging. Lately he has been focusing more of his time and energy in this field, pushing his own boundaries and finding new ways to make meaningful music with friends and colleagues.
Notable Performances of Compositions:
Fantasy for Flute and Piano with Kelby Sappington, May 2018
Unending Love for Choir with St. Charles Avenue Baptist Choir, May 2018
Trio for Viola, Clarinet, and Piano with Stephanie Thompson and Bruce Owen, May 2018
Prelude No. 1 for Concert Band by Loyola Concert Band, May 2012
Nearer To Thee’, a Rhapsody on Hymn Tunes by New Orleans Volunteer Orchestra, Spring 2011
Numerous Arrangements and Transcriptions, ranging in style from Holst and Debussy re-orchestrations to video game soundtrack medleys by New Orleans Volunteer Orchestra and other ensembles
List of Compositions:
Fantasy for Flute & Piano, July 2017
Bagatelle in A Major for Piano, Oct. 2016
Study in Resolution for Piano, Dec. 2015
Unending Love for Choir, Sept. - Oct. 2015
Trio for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, March 2014 - May 2015
Kyrie for Choir, Aug. - Sep. 2015
Expanding Rondo for Large Orchestra, Dec. 2014
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Jan. 2014 - April 2014
Voyager Fanfare for Large Concert Band, Aug. 2013
Study Symphony for Orchestra, Dec. 2012 - Jan. 2014
Prelude for Concert Band, Oct. 2012
Audio Recordings can be found at: https://soundcloud.com/josephcieslak
Music Teacher
Teaching with Joy
Calloway’s passions have always gone hand in hand with education, and he considers teaching a chance to share his enthusiasm for the art form. On any instrument, he believes in a building a strong foundation while connecting those concepts with long-term goals and application; understanding why you are learning something. And he firmly believes that he can show students why music is beautiful and rewarding work, and help them gain their own appreciation and drive for music.
Calloway has a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Loyola University New Orleans, and taught for 3 years, full-time, as a K-12 strings and general music instructor in the St. Tammany Parish Public Schools.
For all inquiries, send e-mail to: CallowayCieslak@gmail.com