SPARR

Composer & Electric guitarist D. J. Sparr, who Gramophone recently hailed as “exemplary,” is one of America’s preeminent composer-performers. He has caught the attention of critics with his eclectic style, described as “pop-Romantic…iridescent and wondrous” (Mercury News) and “suits the boundary-erasing spirit of today’s new-music world” (The New York Times).

“…ambitious and challenging, but engagingly so, casting 20th and 21st century music, almost as a whole, through a prism—fascinating but with feeling and subtle humor.”
— ICON

He was the electric guitar concerto soloist on the 2018 GRAMMY-Award winning album with JoAnn Falletta and the London Symphony Orchestra. In recognition of his distinctive voice, NPR listeners once voted Sparr among their favorite living composers. He has composed for and performed with renowned ensembles such as the Houston Grand Opera, Cabrillo Festival, New World Symphony, Washington National Opera, and Eighth Blackbird.

“This is all a new vision of contemporary classical music, pushing into new territory while holding on to familiar styles. Intriguing, stunning and so beautiful. Such a hopeful work.”
— KFJC

His music has received awards from BMI, New Music USA, and the League of Composers/ISCM. Sparr is the Artistic Coordinator of the Memphis Composers Institute, a collaboration between The Walden School, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Memphis, and is a longtime faculty member at the Walden School’s Creative Musicians Retreat, where he mentors emerging composers, performers, and educators each summer. His works and guitar performances appear on Albany, Naxos, Innova Recordings, and Centaur Records.

D. J. lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with his wife Kimberly, son Harris, and Bundini the boxer. Sparr’s music is published by Bill Holab Music.