Brett Dietz

Brett William Dietz (Assistant Professor, Percussion). Dietz is a composer and percussion instructor at Louisiana State University. He received the Bachelor of Music in Percussion and the Master of Music in Composition/Theory from the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University. Dietz's principal composition teachers were David Stock and Jay Alan Yim.

He was a recipient of the 1994 Duquesne University Women's Advisory Board Music Scholarship, winner of the 1997 Duquesne University Euphonium and Tuba Society Composition Contest, Honorable Mention in the 1998 Harvey Gaul Composition Contest sponsored by the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, 3rd Place Winner of the 2002 Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest, and winner of the 2002 H. Robert Reynolds Composition Contest. In January 2001, Dietz received an award from the Pittsburgh Foundation for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts. His composition five-0 for brass quintet received an award from WFMT (Chicago Classical Radio) and was premiered live on the air as part of the station's 50th anniversary.

Dietz's music has been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Sweden, Korea, and Australia by numerous ensembles including the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, River City Brass Band, Duquesne University Wind Symphony, Duquesne University Contemporary Ensemble, the University of Scranton Choir and Wind Symphony, the Northwestern University, and the University of Kentucky Percussion Ensemble. His compositions have been featured at the 1998 College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference, the 1998 Music Educators National Conference Convention, the 1998 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Convention and the 2001 and 2002 Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Commissions include Stabat Mater, premiered by the University of Scranton Concert Choir under Dietz's baton as part of the World Premiere Composition Series, and The Seventh Chakra, premiered by the composer (as percussion soloist) with the River City Brass Band for the Critical Acclaim concert series. Recently, Dietz's composition, Pandora's Box received its New York Premiere at Carnegie Music Hall by the National Wind Ensemble conducted by H. Robert Reynolds.

Dietz has served on the music faculties of Duquesne University, Westminster College (New Wilimington, PA), and the Merit School of Music in Chicago. He is also a founding member of Tempus Fugit Percussion Ensemble and has performed with the group throughout the United States and Europe since 1993.