Jeff Mangels

Jeff Mangels is a composer known for writing expressive, evocative music. His body of work includes a piano concerto and works for orchestra, winds, brass, strings, chorus, voice, percussion, chamber groups, electronics, electric guitar, and piano.

His symphonic poem, The Trial, was recorded on volume 11 of the “Masterworks of the New Era” CD series (ERM Media). His Sonata for Piano, “Scenes from the Night,” received recognition by Lowell Liebermann and Chen Yi and he received the Linda Betts Frazier Award for outstanding composer (James Madison University).

Performances of Mangels works have occurred in the United States and Europe featuring a variety of ensembles and performers, including the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra (as of this Navona release), the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, The Covington String Quartet, The Chamber Ensemble at the Conductor’s Institute of South Carolina, The James Madison Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, as well as several chamber groups and soloists. In addition, his works have been read by The New River Valley Symphony and The James Madison Orchestra.

A native of Virginia, Mangels became enamored with vast orchestral music in his early years. Through piano study, performing, and listening to an extensive array of music, he developed a keen ear for melody and writing demonstrative music, which lead to formal study of composition. He holds the D.M.A. in composition from The University of South Carolina, the M.M. in composition from James Madison University, and the B.A. in music theory and composition from Virginia Tech.

In addition to composition, Mangels has a passion for music notation and he completed research to improve the notation of harmonics on bowed stringed instruments while at the University of South Carolina. Music theory and its pedagogy peak his interests as well, as do musicology and sound design. Currently, he is Professor of Music at Montgomery College and resides in Leesburg, VA. For more information about Mangels and his work visit: www.jeffmangels.com