O'Boyle awarded the Member of the Order of Australia, AM

Bethlehem, Pa., January 26, 2015—Australian composer, conductor and master orchestrator Sean O’Boyle, artist-in-residence at Moravian College, has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia, AM. The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent way Australians recognize the achievements and service of their fellow citizens.

O’Boyle’s compositions have been performed by major orchestras around the world. In his homeland of Australia, the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Tasmanian, West Australian and Queensland Symphony Orchestras have all performed his works. In Europe, the Berlin Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique Divertimento, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC Concert Orchestra have performed his works. North American orchestras include the Dallas Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Concord Chamber Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony, Tacoma Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Spartanburg Symphony and the Cincinnati Pops.

Recently the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra and Dame Evelyn Glennie premiered his percussion concerto “Portraits of Immortal Love” under the baton of Maestra Sarah Ioannides. His song cycle “Conflict, Sadness, Victory, Resolution” was performed in October 2014 by the Moravian College Community Orchestra, Moravian College Choir and soloist Suzanne Kompass.

In 2000, O’Boyle wrote the broadcast theme for the Sydney Olympic Games, and in 2002 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had the opportunity to hear O'Boyle’s works when he was featured at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

A distinguished conductor, O’Boyle has conducted in great halls across the world, including the Sydney Opera House, Avery Fischer Hall (New York city), Queens Hall (London) and Roy Thompson Hall (Toronto).

O’Boyle has a keen interest in the music of indigenous Australians and in 2001 he collaborated with didgeridoo maestro, William Barton, in composing his Concerto for Didgeridoo & Orchestra. This concerto was ranked #32 in the ABC Classic FM “The Classic 100 Concertos” & #87 in ABC Classic 100 - 20th Century. In 2013, “An Australian in NY” premiered at the Brisbane Festival with over 8,000 people in attendance.

O’Boyle’s future projects include Creative Generations 2015, Queensland Music Festival 2015, Composing an Aluphone Concerto for Dame Evelyn Glennie, Composing a work to commemorate the centenary of Australia’s entry into WWI, and creating a composers’ orchestra.

The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established in 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia to recognize Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service. Before the establishment of the order, Australian citizens received "British honours." For more information, visit: http://www.theorderofaustralia.asn.au/.

For a complete biography on Sean O’Boyle, visit: http://www.seanoboyle.net/. O’Boyle resides in Bethlehem, Pa. with his wife, celebrated soprano Suzanne Kompass and their cat, Delius. O’Boyle and Kompass were both appointed fulltime artists-in-residence at Moravian College in 2014.

At Moravian College, artists-in-residence teach courses, practicums, and lessons. They also provide students with professional development opportunities in recording, and performance preparation. In addition, they utilize their professional networks to invite world-renowned musicians to campus for performances and master classes. They develop links with professional arts organizations to help students with internships, and assist the College with recruitment and outreach.

Moravian College is a private coeducational liberal arts college, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, Moravian is recognized as America's sixth-oldest college and the first to educate women.

The College emphasizes the deliberate integration of a broad-based liberal arts curriculum with hands-on learning experiences to prepare its 1,600 students, not just for jobs, but for successful careers. Moravian College excels at transforming good students into highly competent graduates who are ready to enter the workplace with confidence or shine in graduate school. Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.