John Elmquist

JOHN ELMQUIST, WINNER OF RAPIDO 2010 COMMISSION, received his DMA in composition from the University of Memphis where he studied with Don Freund, and his MM in piano performance from Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied with Landon Bilyeu. He serves on the faculties the Chicago High School of the Arts, the Merit School of Music and the People's Music School. Dr. Elmquist is also the Music Director at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Chicago and works in and around Chicago as a bass player. In 1999 he formed HardArt groop as a vehicle for performing his music; this ad hoc ensemble, ranging in size from 3-20 players, has produced 14 recordings and currently performs 2-3 times per year at various venues in Chicago. Performance venues have included the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, the Green Mill and Northeastern Illinois University. Much of the music of the group can be heard at hardartgroop.com. Dr. Elmquist has received an Individual Artist Grant from the Illinois Arts Council and his recent work "Hairless Cat Sonata" (saxophone and piano) is currently being performed by saxophonists Jeremy Koch and Susan Cook.