Skip to Main Content Skip to Footer
Rider University Home

Header Menu (Mobile)

About
  • Why Choose Rider
  • Virtual Tour
  • Rider Stories
  • Events
  • News
  • Campus Directory Access
  • Offices & Services
  • Human Resources
  • Leadership
  • Consumer Information
  • Commencement
  • Contact Us
Academics
  • Program Finder
  • Colleges & Schools
  • Engaged Learning
  • Academic Calendars
  • Academic Support Services
  • Academic Programs & Opportunities
  • Career Development & Success
  • Centers & Institutes
  • Course Catalog
  • University Libraries
Admissions
  • Apply Now
  • First-Year Admissions
  • Transfer Admissions
  • Graduate Admissions
  • International Admissions
  • Continuing Studies Admissions
  • Pre-College Summer Programs
  • J-term Winter and Summer Sessions
  • University Partnerships
  • Veterans and Military
  • Visit Options
  • Contact Admissions
Tuition & Aid
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • Tuition & Fees
  • First-Year and Transfer Student Resources
  • Returning Student Resources
  • Graduate Student Resources
  • Continuing Studies Student Resources
Student Life
  • Housing and Dining
  • Campus Events and Traditions
  • Activities and Organizations
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Fraternities and Sororities
  • Health and Wellness
Athletics
  • Go Broncs
  • Directions & Facilities
  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Inquire
  • Support Rider
  • Strategic Plan
    • Gmail
    • Canvas
    • myRider
    • BroncNation
    • 25Live
    • Zoom
    • Technology HelpDesk
    • Facilities Work Orders
    • Campus Directory Access
    • Alumni
    • Current Faculty & Staff
    • Current Students
    • Prospective Faculty & Staff
    • Prospective Students & Families
Home
  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Inquire
  • Support Rider
  • Strategic Plan
    • Gmail
    • Canvas
    • myRider
    • BroncNation
    • 25Live
    • Zoom
    • Technology HelpDesk
    • Facilities Work Orders
    • Campus Directory Access
    • Alumni
    • Current Faculty & Staff
    • Current Students
    • Prospective Faculty & Staff
    • Prospective Students & Families
  • About
    Why Choose Rider
    Virtual Tour
    Rider Stories
    Events
    News
    Campus Directory Access
    Offices & Services
    Human Resources
    Leadership
    Consumer Information
    Commencement
    Contact Us
  • Academics
    Program Finder
    Colleges & Schools
    Engaged Learning
    Academic Calendars
    Academic Support Services
    Academic Programs & Opportunities
    Career Development & Success
    Centers & Institutes
    Course Catalog
    University Libraries
  • Admissions
    Apply Now
    First-Year Admissions
    Transfer Admissions
    Graduate Admissions
    International Admissions
    Continuing Studies Admissions
    Pre-College Summer Programs
    J-term Winter and Summer Sessions
    University Partnerships
    Veterans and Military
    Visit Options
    Contact Admissions
  • Tuition & Aid
    Financial Aid & Scholarships
    Tuition & Fees
    First-Year and Transfer Student Resources
    Returning Student Resources
    Graduate Student Resources
    Continuing Studies Student Resources
  • Student Life
    Housing and Dining
    Campus Events and Traditions
    Activities and Organizations
    Diversity and Inclusion
    Fraternities and Sororities
    Health and Wellness
  • Athletics
    Go Broncs
    Directions & Facilities
Jay Kawarsky

Jay Kawarsky

Professor
  • Home
  • About Rider
  • Faculty & Staff Directory
  • Jay Kawarsky
jkawarsky.jpg

Contact Info

Email: jkawarsky [at] rider.edu

Phone Number: 609-921-7100 x8322

Office Location: Omega 209

jkawarsky.jpg

Contact Info

Email: jkawarsky [at] rider.edu

Phone Number: 609-921-7100 x8322

Office Location: Omega 209

Dr. J.A. Kawarsky graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Iowa State University in May 1981, where he studied composition with Gary C. White and piano with William David. He then studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in the summer of 1981. He received a Master of Music degree in composition from Northwestern University in 1982 and then returned to Israel to conduct the Opera Company of the Negev Region in Be’er Sheva and worked with a number of local choirs. In 1983, Dr. Kawarsky returned to Chicago to work on a Doctorate in composition at Northwestern where he studied composition with Alan Stout, arranging with John Paynter, and conducting with Frederick Ockwell. Upon the completion of said degree in 1985, he taught at Fort Hays State University, the University of Wisconsin-Marathon, Moraine Valley Community College, (Palos Hills, IL) and, since 1989, at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ where he is Professor of Music Theory and Composition and was the one of the founders of the BM in the Musical Theater Program.

Dr. Kawarsky was founder and conductor of the New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus from 1991 to 1998, conductor of the Brunswick Symphony and was Artistic Director of the Lehigh Valley Gay Men’s Chorus in Allentown, PA from 1996-2004. He was active in the conducting of musical theater productions in Chicago and remains an avid audience member. As a composer, he has written for all genres including solo instrument, orchestra, band, choir, vocal and theater. Recently, he received his sixth Composer Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). His 40 minute work Prayers for Bobby for choir, orchestra, narrator and soloists, has received numerous performances throughout the United States and Canada and was recorded by the New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus. For GALA 2000, he collaborated with writer Michael Thomas Ford on Alec Baldwin Doesn’t Love Me. This work, for chorus, soloists, narrator and rock band, was premiered in June 2000 and subsequently recorded by the Lehigh Valley Gay Men’s Chorus. Dr. Kawarsky has been commissioned by numerous choruses for original works and arrangements. In the summer of 2000, Dr. Kawarsky was awarded a fellowship from Rider University to compose a work for piano and orchestra to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Westminster Choir College. The result was the premiere of Episodes in May 2001. Episodes has subsequently been recorded by the St. Petersburg State Philharmonic (2016), released on Navona (Naxos) recordings. As part of an upcoming recording of his works, he has recorded an orchestra work, And We All Waited..., with the Moravian Philharmonic in the Czech Republic (2016), a string quartet with oboe solo, Grace Dances, in Havana, Cuba (2017), a saxophone and orchestra work, Fastidious Notes, with the Chicago Arts Ensemble (2017), and a new accompaniment for 10 instruments to "replace" the 4-handed one for Brahms's Liebeslieder Walzer (2017-18). In 2017, Dr. Kawarsky was nominated for a Grammy for Three Spanish Songs, that had been recorded in Havana. Recently, he was commissioned by the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra for the work Charlottesville: 12 August 2017 that was premiered and recorded in Krasnoyarsk, Russian. He is published by Yelton Rhodes Music, Transcontinental Music,GIA Music, Southern Music, and self-published.

 

Apply
Visit
Inquire
Support Rider

Rider University
2083 Lawrenceville Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Main: 609-896-5000
Admissions: 800-257-9026

connect with us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • https://www.linkedin.com/school/rider-university/

Visit

  • Events for Prospective Students
  • Directions to Campus
  • Campus Map
  • Buildings & Facilities
  • Virtual Tour
  • Events for Prospective Students
  • Directions to Campus
  • Campus Map
  • Buildings & Facilities
  • Virtual Tour

Get Help

  • Contact Us
  • Offices & Services
  • Public Safety
  • Contact Us
  • Offices & Services
  • Public Safety

Engage

  • Alumni
  • Events & Performances
  • myRider
  • Job Opportunities
  • Rider Stories
  • Support Rider
  • Alumni
  • Events & Performances
  • myRider
  • Job Opportunities
  • Rider Stories
  • Support Rider

Stay Informed

  • Campus Updates
  • COVID-19 Information
  • [email protected]
  • Rider Magazine
  • University Libraries
  • University Marketing & Communications
  • Campus Updates
  • COVID-19 Information
  • [email protected]
  • Rider Magazine
  • University Libraries
  • University Marketing & Communications
©2020 Rider University
Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Contact Us
English Arabic Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) French Spanish