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General Interests
"I feel privileged to work both as a teacher and as a performer. My teaching certainly informs my work as a conductor, composer and pianist, just as my concert and creative experiences enhance and shape my classroom perspective."
Years at Knox: 1983 to present
Education
D.M.A., Instrumental Music, 1989, Arizona State University.
M.A., Composition, 1977, California State University.
B.M., Composition, 1971, University of Southern California.
Teaching Interests
Music theory and history, contemporary tonal harmony, composition, conducting, orchestration, experimental and avant garde music, music of the United States
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Standards Awards, 1993-present.
Invitation to present a conducting masterclass at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moscow, Russia.
Illinois Cultural Leadership Award, 2008.
Who's Who in America, 59th Edition, 2005.
Knox College Exceptional Achievement Award, 2005-2006
International Who's Who in Classical Music, 2004 and 2003.
Dictionary of International Biography, 31st Edition, 2004.
Who's Who Among Americas Teachers, 2003-2004.
Illinois Conductor of the Year, 2004, and 1997; only conductor to receive the award twice.
International Trombone Association Award (for the Knox-Galesburg Symphony), 2001.
Outstanding Musicians of the 20th Century, 1st Edition, 2000.
International Who's Who in Music and Musicians, 18th Edition.
Who's Who in American Music.
Illinois Orchestra of the Year, 1998-1999.
Knox College Exceptional Achievement Award, 1998-1999
Recital at Carnegie Hall, 1998.
Four Ragdale Foundation Composition Residencies.
Grants
Global Partners Project Award for travel to guest conduct in Russia, 2002 and 2000.
Recent Accomplishments
Compositions
Composer-in-Residence, Lynn University Conservatory of Music, Boca Raton, Florida, 2008.
String Quartet No. 1, 2008: Commissioned by Lynn University and the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University-published, Editions Rassel, New York, 2008.
"Ebb and Flow" for piano solo, 2007: commissioned by Judy Lavalley and the First Chiristian Church of San Mateo, California.
"Sparkle" for Orchestra, 2007: commissioned by Blick Art Materials.
"Pictures for an Exhibition: Music of Bruce Polay", compact disc published by Zimbel Press, New York, 2006.
"Three Violin Duets on Catalonian Folksongs." 2005.
"5 Novelettes for String Quartet," Op. 15 by Alexander Glazunov arranged for String Orchestra and Harp. 2006: commissioned by The Galesburg Symphony Society.
"Suite on Popular Catalonian Folksongs for String Orchestra," 2004, published by ER (Editions Rassel), New York, 2005.
"Three Violin Duets on Catalonian Folk Songs for String Orchestra," commissioned, 2004.
"Illumination for Orchestra," commissioned by The Galesburg Symphony Society, 2003.
"Suite of Preludes for Organ." Zimbel Press, 2002.
"Come Follow Me." Variations for Organ, released on CD, 2002.
"Solemnity for Brass Ensemble," 2002, published, Kargarice Brass Publications, Denton, Texas, 2008.
"Golden Oldie for Orchestra", 2001, commissioned by The Galesburg Symphony Society, 2001, commissioned by The Galesburg Symphony Society for the 50th Anniversary of The Knox-Galesburg Symphony.
"Elegy for Solo Violin and Small Orchestra" (2001), commissioned and premiered in England by the Genesius Theater Foundation, 2001, commissioned by Rimma Sushanskayai, published, Editions Rassel, New York, 2004.
"Semi-Suite for Violin, Cello, and Piano," commissioned by the Quad Cities Chamber Music Society, 2000, published, Editions Rassel, New York, 2006.
Publications
Come, Through Fount of Every Blessing (2003) for Violin and Piano, publication by Zimbel Press, NY, expected fall, 2009.
String Quartet No.1 (2008), published by Editions Rassel, New York, 2008.
Solemnity with Finale for Brass Ensemble, published by Kargarice Brass Publications, Denton, Texas, 2008.
Semi-Suite for Violin, Cello, and Piano. Published by Editions Rassel, New York.
"Pictures for an Exhibition: Music of Bruce Polay." A compact disc published and distributed by Zimbel Press, New York, 2006.
"Suite on Popular Catalonian Folksongs for String Orchestra." ER (Editions Rassel), New York, 2005.
CD, "Chamber Music by Bruce Polay." Zimbel Press, New York, 2005.
"Solemnity for Brass Ensemble," 2002.
"Suite of Preludes for Organ," 2002.
"Amazing Grace" for Violin and Piano, 2001, published by Zimbel Music, New York, 2002.
"Elegy for Solo Violin and Small Orchestra," 2001, published by Editions Rassel, New York, 2004.
"Prelude for Kingsfold for Organ," 2001, published by Zimbel Press, New York, 2002.
"Consolation for Organ," 1998, published by Zimbel Press, New York, 1999.
"Encomium for Narrator, Three-Part Children's Chorus, and Orchestra," 1986, published by MMB, St. Louis, 1987.
Presentations
Illinois Arts Council, Music Panel, 2009.
Guest Conducting
Campus & Community Involvement
Recitalist, Knox-Galesburg Symphony Trio; Galesburg, Illinois; Toulon, Illinois; Monmouth, Illinois; and Burlington, Iowa (with George Atanasiu).
Recitalist, Rowan University Faculty Spotlight Series (with George Atanasiu), Glassboro, New Jersey.
Recitalist, Carl Sandburg College Recital Series (with Francesca dePasquale).Recitalist, Carl Sandburg College Chamber Music Series (with Mirjam Ingolffson), Galesburg, Illinois.
Adjudicator, Music Teachers National Association Competition, Illinois State University.
Adjudicator, District XI Orchestra Festival, West Springfield High School, Fairfax, Virginia.
Adjudicator, The Holis Prize Final Competition, Millikin University School of Music.
Judge, Valparaiso University Concerto/Aria Competition.
Judge, Bradley University Concerto/Aria Competition.
Recitalist, Carl Sandburg College Concert Series (with Eva Leon); Galesburg, Illinois and Toulon, Illinois.
Judge, Midwest Young Artists Competition.
Recitalist, Community Concert Series (with Francesca dePasquale) Burlington, Iowa.
Recitalist, Polay Recital Series (with Francesca dePasquale), Toulon, Illinois.
Recitalist, Community Concert Series (with Mirjam Ingolffson) Burlington, Iowa and Toulon, Illinois.
Recitalist, Bistrow Series (with Eva Leon), Toulon, Illinois.
Judge, Florestano Rossomundi International Piano Competition, Foggio, Italy.
Instructor, conducting masterclass, Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Russian Federation.
Member, Barlow Endowment for Music Composition Board of Advisors, serving as judge for national and international composition and commissioning programs.
Member, Board of Directors and Mentoring Committee, Illinois Council of Orchestras.
Member, Illinois Arts Council, Music Program Panel for Symphonies, Ensembles and Opera.
Member, Advisory Board, Foundation for New Music.
Judge, Caltanissetta Chamber Music Competition, Sicily, Italy.
Head Judge, Ludmila Knezkova-Hussey International Piano Competition, Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada.
Member, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).
Judge, Midwest Young Artists Competition.
What Students Say
"Professor Polay's passion for music has allowed me to play in an orchestra that has both character and zeal. He has a vast knowledge of all aspects of music and shows how each aspect helps create a larger effect. Professor Polay is receptive to students' ideas and to creativity in general. He is very approachable and genuinely concerned about his students' progress."
-Bernadette Vitola, Music Major
Contact
309-341-7208
bpolay@knox.edu
Knox College has joined with former employees of Maytag's Galesburg Refrigeration Plant, to survey hundreds of workers who lost their jobs when the plant closed in 2004.
Fifteen Knox College students were awarded grants from Knox's REACH Fellows Program to work as teaching assistants with this year's session of Knox College4Kids.
Knox College student Eleanor Poley recently won first place in a computer programming research competition. Poley's project is "RUMU Editor: A Non-WYSIWYG Web Editor for Non-Technical Users."
