Roger Cichy
Roger Cichy ( b.1956) has a diverse background as both a composer/arranger and a music educator. Roger holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts in Music Education degrees from The Ohio State University. Although both are in the area of music education, he has studied composition and arranging as a second area of concentration during both degree programs.
As a music educator, Roger was a very successful band director in Mars, Pennsylvania covering grades 5 through 12 in instrumental music. After earning his Masters degree, Roger served as Associate Director of Bands at the University of Rhode Island, and at Iowa State University where he directed the Marching Band, Concert Band, and Basketball Pep Band and taught various music courses on the undergraduate level. In 1995, he resigned his position at Iowa State University to devote full-time to composing and arranging.
As a freelance composer and arranger, Roger writes for high school and college bands, professional orchestras, and the commercial music industry. He has over 275 compositions and arrangements accredited to his name. Included in those works are several published by Kendor Music, Psyclone Music, Heritage Music, Great Works Publishing, Band Music Press, Daehn Publications, Wingert-Jones Music, MSB Publishing, C. Alan Publications and Permus Publications. His composition mentors include Edward Montgomery, Marshall Barnes, and Joseph Levey.
Roger has received numerous composition awards from The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) for serious music. His works range from small ensemble literature to compositions and arrangements for marching band, concert band, and symphony orchestra. He is widely sought as a composer for commissions, and frequently appears as a composer-in-residence and guest conductor.
In 1994, he was commissioned by the Des Moines Symphony for an orchestral work. The resulting composition, Divertimento for Strings, Winds and Percussion, was later transcribed for wind band and has received numerous performances from premiere college and professional wind bands in the U.S. The work has been released on a 1995 recording by the North Texas Wind Symphony, conducted by Eugene Corporan, on the Klavier label. Roger's recent works include Galilean Moons, commissioned by the University of Georgia Wind Symphony and premiered at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) national convention in February 1997; Colours, a six movement work commissioned by the Kansas State University Symphony Band, and make a Joyous Sound, commissioned by the Des Moines Symphony, BBC Forever!, commissioned by the Brass Band of Columbus; Wisconsin Soundscapes, commissioned by the University of Wisconsin-Superior Symphonic Band to honor the 150th anniversary of Wisconsin statehood; Bugs, commissioned by the University of St. Thomas and premiered at the North Central Regional Conference of the College Band Directors National Association; and First Flights, commissioned by the University of Georgia to commemorate the upcoming 100th anniversary of flight. First Flights has recently been released on a recording by the University of Georgia Symphonic Winds, on the Summit label.
Most recent works include Festival!, T. Rex, and Wizards, all commissioned works for wind ensemble. Roger has completing a new work, Sounds, Sketches and IDeaS, commissioned by the University of St. Thomas, and is in collaboration with his 12-year-old daughter, Rebecca. Roger has taken the melodies that Rebecca has created and employed them into a full symphonic work.
The music of Roger Cichy is continually being performed throughout the United State and abroad; including Japan, Britain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Russia, Canada, Argentina, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, France, Netherlands, and Mexico. His works have also been performed at many prestigious conventions including Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinics, CBDNA National and Regional Conventions, ASBDA Conventions, MENC National and Regional Conventions, several All-State Festivals, and appear on many contest lists throughout the U.S.
Cichy resides in Scituate, Rhode Island with his wife Pat, and their daughter Rebecca. He currently teaches Composition at Providence College in Providence, RI.