Brian Kehlenbach is a composer, classical recitalist, and jazz pianist. His music is a reflection of this diverse background - it is propulsive, rhythmic, and written in an eclectic style where jazz harmonies freely intermingle with classical forms and contemporary textures. Recent performances of Kehlenbach's solo and chamber works have taken place at Carnegie Hall, on the Aries Composers Festival, on RealNewMusic festivals, and in several venues across the country. The Pepperdine University Orchestra recently gave the premiere performance of his orchestral piece, Three Scenes from Moby Dick, a concerto for tuba and marimba in November of 2014. Other performances of pieces for larger forces include In the Land Beyond, Beyond with the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, Circumdare with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Dance of the 25th Hour with the U.S.C. Contemporary Music Ensemble, and Blue Line with the Divan Consort.
His music has been heard on the Los Angeles SCREAM festival, the CalArts Contemporary Music Festival, the Los Angeles John Cage Festival, the Charleston Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and KPFK radio. Commissions have come from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Biola University Youth Theatre, and consortiums of generous musicians from across the country organized by Holben Publishing. Kehlenbach holds B.S and M.M. degrees from the University of Connecticut and a Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Southern California, where he was named outstanding graduate in music theory and composition. He was the recipient of the Peter David Faith Memorial Award in Composition, the Jimmy McHugh Composition Prize and the Hans Salter Music Award. Also, his piece Times of Reflection for two pianos and electronics was a winning composition in the Betty Freeman Competition. He is a Professor in the Music Department at Santa Ana College where he was named Distinguished Faculty Lecturer in 1999.
