BRUCE RUDDELL
The Canadian League of Composers
Associate Composer-The Canadian Music Centre
Bruce Ruddell graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1975. Since then he has been an active member of the arts in Canada and the United States for the past 50 years as a composer, arranger, music director, conductor, playwright, artistic director, and record producer. His compositions for concert halls have been performed and broadcast worldwide.
1998- Composer-in-Residence- Vancouver Bach Choir– Bruce Pullan-Music Director
1993 -Composer-in-Residence –Vancouver Chamber Choir-Jon Washburn Music Director
1990- Composer-in-Residence- (Eric Harvie Award)– Charlottetown Festival-Walter Learning-Artistic Director
1989 -Composer-in-Residence –Vancouver Chamber Choir-Jon Washburn Music Director
1988- Finalist- Composer-in-Residence Canadian Opera Company
1986- Composer-in Residence-Vancouver Playhouse– Walter Learning-Artistic Director
List of Compositions for Concert Halls and Radio and Television Broadcasts
2024- The Five Seasons-sbridged-Kirk Hall Victoria BC
2023- Strength From Rivers-Seattle’s Interlake Wind Ensemble
2022- The Healing Heart of the First People of this Land-University of Western Washington orchestra. November 9
2021-ongoing- The Plague Diaries is a full-length music theatre work commissioned by The Canada Council.
2020- Tale Of A Whale– SATB- keyboards, guitars- Bruce Ruddell-Vocal-Choral Evolution.
2019- Hail Gaia!– Commissioned by Pauline Le Bel. Mixed voices, piano, and cello.
2018- Crawling Trees-Mixed Voices, guitars, percussion. (Mortal Coil commission)
2017/18-Walk Along The Water-Mixed voices, guitars, keyboard, Uzume Taiko Drummers, Wolfpack-Musqueum singers, and dancers. (Mortal Coil commission)
2017- ongoing-The Five Seasons – commissioned by Haida Artist Robert Davidson and the Music Division of Canada Council. Full-length postmodern oratorio (80 mins.) for mixed voices and orchestral ensemble.
2013- The Spirit of Haida Gwaii-excerpt- The Windsor Symphony-Choir-Martin Macdonald-Conductor, Six String Nation Choir. Windsor, Ont. (5 mins.)
2013- Rock Music For The Erratics– electroacoustic score commissioned for visual artist Jean Wellburn’s installation at The Stationhouse Gallery in Williams Lake, B.C.-40 mins.
2011-New Journeys– CD and performance project with Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson-soloist. Percussion, Cello, Acoustic and electric guitars, Keyboard. Conducted by Bruce Ruddell- Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver BC, The Friendship Centre, Skidegate, BC, Headline concert on the Victoria legislature lawn-July 1st 2012 celebrations-42 mins.
2009- Vigil– performed by the Borealis String Quartet and The Christ Church Cathedral choir, conducted by Rupert Lang, honoured the missing and murdered women of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and the Highway Of Tears. This thirty minute work has had multiple broadcasts on a number of CBC radio programs.
2008-The Spirit Of Haida Gwaii– Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Melody Mercredi-Mezzo Soprano and Clarence Logan-Baritone –Rupert Lang conductor. Opening concert for the 2010 Cultural Olympiad- 30 mins.-Vancouver
2005- The Healing Heart Of The First People Of This Land-a commission from revered Lushootseed Elder, Vi Hilbert for The Seattle Symphony; conducted by Maestro Gerard Schwarz. This fifty minute work was a feature part of The Made In America Festival and was performed to a sold out, standing ovation in Benaroya Hall-Seattle. The U.S. television broadcaster PBS is in the process of making a feature documentary on the creation of this work.
2002- The Spirit Of Haida Gwaii-Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Symphony, Judith Forst-Mezzo Soprano, John Avey-Baritone, Iwan Edwards-conductor- CBC television (Opening Night Series)- 30 mins. The Chan Centre-Vancouver
2001- All Faces– Music Intima, Sal Ferreras, percussion- 18 mins.-Vancouver
2000- The Sprit Of Haida Gwaii-Saint Lawrence Choir-Ensemble Amati, Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra, Nathalie Paulin-Soprano, John Avey-Baritone, Iwan Edwards-conductor-Radio Canada and Radio 2 broadcasts-30 mins.-Montreal
2000- 13 Soundbytes For Spring– Bremerton Symphony Orchestra (USA), piano- John Welsh-conductor- 20 mins.- Bremerton WA
1999- Te Deum- Handel Society Choir-Abbotsford Symphony- Lynn Wiiliams- Soprano, Elizabeth Mabee-Alto, Lance Clinker-Tenor, Willy Grenzberg-Baritone, Johan Louwersheimer-conductor-25 mins. White Rock BC
1998-The Spirit Of Haida Gwaii- Vancouver Bach Choir-Judith Forst-Mezzo Soprano, Mark Pedrotti-Baritone- Bruce Pullan Conductor- CBC Radio 1 and 2 broadcasts-30 mins.- Orpheum- Vancouver
1996-EARTHPRAYERS, a massive ninety-minute oratorio that opened the 11th World AIDS Conference in Vancouver. Three hundred of the city’s most accomplished musicians and singers, including the Vancouver Bach Choir, ELEKTRA, Chor Leoni, the Vancouver Symphony, the CBC Radio Orchestra, MET star Judith Forst and Tony Award winner Brent Carver performed this work. Conducted by David Agler.
1994- To Music– Commissioned by the International Educator’s Conference held in Vancouver. 300 mixed voices from Vancouver, Trombone, Percussion, Trumpet, Tympani, Piano, Harp- conductor-Bruce Ruddell- 20 mins. Pan Pacific Conference hall-Vancouver
1996- Te Deum– Handel Society Choir-Abbotsford Symphony- Katherine van Kampen- Soprano, Elizabeth Mabee-Alto, Marcel van Neer-Tenor, Richard DeVillier-Baritone, Johan Louwersheimer-conductor-40 mins.-Abbotsford BC
1995- A View To The Sea– Abbotsford Symphony- Johan Louwersheimer-conductor-10 mins.-Abbotsford BC
1993- Jelly Belly Dreams– Vancouver Chamber Choir- Jon Washburn conductor- 30 mins. (Jaymar publication)-Vancouver
1992- The World Is As Sharp As A Knife-CBC Radio Orchestra-Vancouver Chamber Choir-Benjamin Butterfield-Tenor, Candace Burrows-Mezzo Soprano, Jon Washburn-conductor- 90 mins.-Museum of Anthropology-Vancouver
1991- Rainforest Suite – Commissioned by the CBC Radio Orchestra- Vancouver Chamber Choir–CBC Radio 2-15 mins.-Vancouver
1991-Rainforest Suite-Vancouver Chamber Choir-Bryn Nixon-Organ -Jon Washburn-conductor-15 mins. CBC Radio 2- Vancouver
1990- Lamb Of God– Prelude and Three Interludes for three concert harps Vancouver Chamber Choir/Chanticleer- Jon Washburn-conductor-8 mins. CBC Radio 2, CD- Rise Shine. Orpheum-Vancouver
1989- Not In A Manger-Vancouver Chamber Choir- Jon Washburn-conductor-5 mins. CBC Radio 2 (Lawson-Gould publication)-Vancouver
1989 Through Adam’s Eyes (four movements) Vancouver Chamber Choir- Jon Washburn-conductor (published by Lawson-Gould) 20 mins.-Vancouver
1988-The River– Soprano and piano- 8 mins. (Canadian Opera Company finalist performance for composer in residence)-Toronto
1987- All Faces– This commission for The Vancouver Chamber Choir and percussionist Salvador Ferreras premiered in the Great Hall in Beijing and was part of the VCC’s historic tour of Mainland China and Hong Kong. Conducted by Jon Washburn-18 mins.
1986-Mass in A minor-Toronto Opera Chorus, Mendelssohn Youth Choir, Robert Cooper Conductor- 20 mins. (Commissioned by The Stratford Festival) Toronto
1984- Ghost Song– Victoria Wind Orchestra-15mins.-Victoria BC
1983- Evening Diversions– Vancouver Schools String Orchestra- 15 mins. Vancouver
1975-78- Composer/Music Director for the Tamahnous Theatre collective.