Marjorie M. Rusche

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Marjorie M. Rusche composes music for opera, music theater, orchestra, chorus, dance, soloists, and a variety of vocal and instrumental ensembles. Awards and commissions include: Indiana University South Bend Raclin School of the Arts Faculty Development Award, commission for piano solo (2009); Columbia College Chicago's Follett Fellowship (2007-2008); Saint Mary’s College Women’s Choir (2004); Indiana Music Teachers Association Convention Commission (2003); South Bend Symphony Orchestra (2003 & 2000); Indiana University South Bend Philharmonic (2000); the American Music Center’s Margaret Fairbank Jory Copying Assistance Program, New York City (1999); DuPage Chorale/American Composers Forum-Chicago Chapter (1998); Stickley Foundation Opera Commission Award, South Bend, IN (1998); Indiana State Arts Board Individual Composer Fellowship (1996-1997); Meet The Composer-Midwest (1996, 1987, 1983); the Jerome Foundation, St. Paul, MN (1996); the American Chamber Opera Company, New York City (1995); Gotham Ensemble, New York City (1993); Meet The Composer-New York Composer Performance Fund Award (1993); Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, IN (1992); McKnight Foundation Fellowship in Music Composition, St. Paul, MN (1988); Minnesota State Arts Board Individual Artist Fellowship in Music Composition (1987); Minnesota Composers Forum Demo Tape Grant (1983); the Schubert Club, St. Paul, MN (1985, 1975); Minnesota Composers Forum/Jerome Foundation Composers Commissioning Program Award (1983); Skylight Comic Opera Theater, Milwaukee, WI (1983); DANCECIRCUS, Milwaukee, WI (1982); and yearly ASCAP Standard Awards Grants (2009-1985). Her compositions have been performed live and on radio in Amsterdam, Vienna, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, London, Kenya, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

Dr. Rusche is affiliated with ASCAP, the American Music Center, the American Composers Forum, the Chicago Composers Forum, the College Music Society, and the International Alliance for Women in Music. She teaches music composition, music theory, and piano at the Indiana University South Bend, the University of Notre Dame, IN and at her private studio. She has also taught at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN, Columbia College Chicago and Southwestern Michigan College.

Performances of recent works include Piano Portraits: Nightwatch II. Bluesy Cantabile performed by Robert Coleridge on the 12th London New Wind Festival and Women in Music UK Joint Event, Regent Hall, London, England, November 6, 2009; Modern Mixtures: Piano Sonata premiered by Hsiao-Ling Lin on the PianoForte Salon Series, broadcast live on Chicago Public Radio, WFMT 98.7, Chicago, June 27, 2008; Tone Poems for Bassoon and Piano, performed by Rafael Zanon, bassoon and Sergey Bezrodny, piano, MUSIC ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, The Conservatory of Asturias, Spain, December 19, 2007; premiered by Doug Spaniol, bassoon and Bradley Haag, piano, Indiana University South Bend Auditorium, IN, February 25, 1999; Mood Etudes for Bb clarinets, performed by Miguel Angel Font and Rocio F. Garin, MUSIC ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, The Conservatory of Asturias, Spain, December 19, 2007; performed by Ton Bok and Miny Leeuw, Festival Nieuwe Muziek, Mueller Zaal, Amsterdam, Holland, March 7, 1993; Mostly Women Composers Concert Series, Bloomingdale House of Music, New York, NY, January 26, 1993; tape used in a program by DANCECIRCUS, Milwaukee, WI, April 16&23, 1992; premiered at Indiana University Bloomington Recital Hall, IN, November 11, 1992; Paranormal Transits: Cosmic Clowns, interdisciplinary work for narrator, oboe, percussion, doublebass and dancer, text by the composer, Mark Wooldrage, narrator; Pat Morehead, oboe; Catherine Barnes, percussion; Kells Nollenberger, doublebass; Betty Salamun, dancer; Marjorie Rusche, conductor; premiered at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Composers Forum MUSICIRCUS event, October 7, 2007; Comments, song cycle for soprano and piano, poetry by Dorothy Parker, performed by Laurel Thomas, soprano and Jeffrey Jacob, piano, Composition Recital, I