Playwrights, Composers, Lyricists and Authors

Mary Ann Joyce-Walter was born in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and received her M.A. and Ph.D. in theory and composition from Washington University, St. Louis, after which she moved to the New York City area where she has remained.  She is an active composer and a Professor of Music at Manhattanville College.  Her works have been performed at international festivals throughout Europe and Russia as well as many parts of the United States.

A recently-commissioned piece for SATB and piano, In Anguish and in Hope-a Psalm for Today, was premiered by the Manhattan Choral Ensemble at Earl Hall, Columbia University.  A new work based on an Aztec prayer, "Oh, Only For So Short a While," was premiered by the Vanguard Singers, Detroit, Michigan, in the ensemble’s June, 2007 Concert.  A Summer Fantasy was premiered in concert at the Botanical Gardens, Krakow, Poland during that same month.  Other recent performances of her works include Aceldama for solo flute and string ensemble premiered by the Antara Ensemble, New York City, The Little Vagabond (Wm.  Blake) for soprano and piano, at the Round Top Center for the Arts, and the Live Poets Society, and Gothic Fantasy for solo piano and Winter Weather Advisory (Ann Silsbee, poet) at Greenwich House, New York City.  Cantata for the Children of Terezin for SATB, orchestra and children's choir was selected as one of the contemporary works to be included in the upcoming "Masterworks of the New Era."  The Prague Symphony, and Kiev Chamber Choir have recorded the piece.

Her works are published by Pioneer Drama and Gold Branch, and recorded by Capstone, ERMMedia.  Joyce-Walter recently finished setting three of Joan Rudel’s poems for soprano and piano.  She is a member of ASCAP, American Composers Forum, the American Music Center, and is Treasurer of New York Women Composers.