Pianist/Composer/Conductor/Teacher
Highly acclaimed pianist/composer/conductor/teacher, Carolyn Hawley, has performed to standing ovations throughout California and to audiences in Europe and the mid-west. Praised for her musical sensitivity and depth as a pianist. and recognized as a magnetic conductor of orchestra, she has also made a strong mark as a composer of over 100 works for all combinations of voices and instruments. This includes a recent world premier performance of her "Mass for Chorus and Orchestra". She has won commissions to compose several large works and has won many competitions for her piano playing.
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Ms. Hawley founded the Ukiah Symphony in 1978. As its conductor and music director she developed it into a full orchestra of strong stature. She is also founder and pianist for the Ukiah Chamber Players, both groups of which present annual concert seasons of wide musical appeal. She has been a guest conductor and guest lecturer for orchestras and music departments in San Diego, Mendocino, and the California Bay Area. As a pianist she has a vast repertoire, including the complete works of Chopin, most of the Beethoven Sonatas, and larger keyboard works of Bach. She has also introduced audiences to extremely rare and difficult modern piano works such as Villa Lobos "Rudepoema" Messiaen's "Isle de Feu" and Bartok's "Out-of-Doors Suite."
Ms. Hawley has an M.A. from Mills College where she studied with Darius Milhaud, Leon Kirchner, and Egon Petri. She studied conducting with Tom Nee and Elizabeth Green. and believes that orchestra conducting is "the perfect marriage of the performer to the composer in music." Her compositions are currently being released for publication.
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Ms. Hawley founded the Ukiah Symphony in 1978. As its conductor and music director she developed it into a full orchestra of strong stature. She is also founder and pianist for the Ukiah Chamber Players, both groups of which present annual concert seasons of wide musical appeal. She has been a guest conductor and guest lecturer for orchestras and music departments in San Diego, Mendocino, and the California Bay Area. As a pianist she has a vast repertoire, including the complete works of Chopin, most of the Beethoven Sonatas, and larger keyboard works of Bach. She has also introduced audiences to extremely rare and difficult modern piano works such as Villa Lobos "Rudepoema" Messiaen's "Isle de Feu" and Bartok's "Out-of-Doors Suite."
Ms. Hawley has an M.A. from Mills College where she studied with Darius Milhaud, Leon Kirchner, and Egon Petri. She studied conducting with Tom Nee and Elizabeth Green. and believes that orchestra conducting is "the perfect marriage of the performer to the composer in music." Her compositions are currently being released for publication.
Artist
Carolyn came to Mendocino County (Ukiah area) in 1970 as a classical musician, and was so stunned by its beauty she began painting in oils; to capture visually what before. She writes about her painting:
"I only translated into beauty of sound in music. Every area an artist lives in influences their art. Mendocino County however is very special to me. I keep returning to it, despite several attempts to move away. Its ever changing hillsides, the vastly different seasons, the deer, trees, birds, and simplicity of life here compared to the Bay Area keeps me in contact with nature and spirituality. The hectic pace of city life fades away, and I find peace of mind and soul, and gratitude to be alive here and part of nature. The area inspires me, and gives meaning to existence. It makes solitude more bearable for an artist. Nature, with all the animals and wildlife is gloriously displayed almost anywhere in Mendocino County. Its realism is magic! "
"I only translated into beauty of sound in music. Every area an artist lives in influences their art. Mendocino County however is very special to me. I keep returning to it, despite several attempts to move away. Its ever changing hillsides, the vastly different seasons, the deer, trees, birds, and simplicity of life here compared to the Bay Area keeps me in contact with nature and spirituality. The hectic pace of city life fades away, and I find peace of mind and soul, and gratitude to be alive here and part of nature. The area inspires me, and gives meaning to existence. It makes solitude more bearable for an artist. Nature, with all the animals and wildlife is gloriously displayed almost anywhere in Mendocino County. Its realism is magic! "
"Living Composers" Interviews 2012 to 2015
Carolyn interviewed present day composers on KPFZ radio, and shared their thoughts and music, live streamed, with the radio audience. The following composers, mostly northern California living NACUSA members, talk of their lives as modern day "classical" composers in a world which listens mostly to "popular" music of the time. The music and interviews included in this web site are:
Carolyn Bowen Hawley
Peter Deutsch
Kenneth Froelich
Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Mark Alburger
Antonio Celaya
Alden Jenks
Greg Steinke
Clovice Lewis
Davide Verotta
Adrienne Albert
Lorin Hawley
John Bilotta
Jeff Dunn
2015 Final Interview - Carolyn Hawley
January 30, 2016 - Six Songs: Friendship
February 29, 2016 - Levitin: Joy
April 16, 2016 - Levitin: Comfort
April 30, 2016 - Levitin: Knowledge
Levitin: Religion
July 30, 2016 Levitin
Carolyn Bowen Hawley
Peter Deutsch
Kenneth Froelich
Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Mark Alburger
Antonio Celaya
Alden Jenks
Greg Steinke
Clovice Lewis
Davide Verotta
Adrienne Albert
Lorin Hawley
John Bilotta
Jeff Dunn
2015 Final Interview - Carolyn Hawley
January 30, 2016 - Six Songs: Friendship
February 29, 2016 - Levitin: Joy
April 16, 2016 - Levitin: Comfort
April 30, 2016 - Levitin: Knowledge
Levitin: Religion
July 30, 2016 Levitin
