ISABELLE M. PEARSON Phone: (406) 570-6103 isabellepearsonstudios@gmail.com https://isabellepearson.squarespace.com/
EDUCATION James Madison University (2024 - in progress) Master’s in Music Composition 3.97 GPA University of Montana 2019 - 2023 Bachelor of Music Piano Pedagogy and Performance/Flute Performance Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition Bachelor of Arts in German
May 2023 3.94 GPA
Bozeman High School 2015-2019
HONORS AND AWARDS Music Odyssey Scholarship Montana Achievement Award Jean V. Sullivan Scholarship Louise Kymla Sire Scholarship in Music Mary Cardell Moore and Robert and Florence Cardell Scholarship Powell German Scholarship Cynda Tompkins Piano Pedagogy Scholarship Robert M. Burgess Memorial Scholarship University of Montana President’s and Dean’s List Excellence in the Arts Award Excellence in Creative Scholarship Award President’s Outstanding Student Award Graduate Assistantship at James Madison University Research Interests • Exploring the relationship between sound and nature - How can we use music to bring awareness to the natural world? • Creating multidisciplinary events that combine, science, art, music, and dance - To bring two worlds together and combine different stimulus styles (lecture, visual art, music) to educate about conservation and the environment - Current Project: Art and the Ecosystem: A Collaborative Concert, Gallery, and Lecture Event (See here)
COMMISSIONED COMPOSITIONS Time Denoted Minutes: Seconds Cloudburst (in progress) For Flute Choir Commissioned by the Montana Flute Association for presentation to the National Flute Association Rooted (in progress) For French horn and piano Commissioned by Gray Smiley (Doctoral Horn Student) for his Final Doctoral Recital
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Temporal (in progress) For Wind Quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet in Bb, Bassoon and Alto Saxophone Commissioned by the James Madison College of Visual Arts and Media for upcoming multidisciplinary trip to Portugal. Featuring dance choreography from JMU Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance Lanterns (2025) For Flute, Tenor and Bass voice Written for the Sherborne Summer School of Music Premiered at the Sherborne Summer School, August 2025. Listen Here Confluence (2025) For Two Pianos, Four Hands Written for the Sherborne Summer School of Music Premiered by the Unfolding Duo and American Liszt Society, November 17th, 2025 Earthsong (2024) 3:30 For SATB Choir Commissioned by the Aiga Singers, led by Leasi Mana Premiere Scheduled for April 25th, 8pm, 2026. Heimweh (2024) 8:20 For Full Orchestra and Percussion Commissioned by the Butte Symphony for their 75th Anniversary in 2024. Premiered by the Butte Symphony, directed by Dr. Luis Milan on November 2nd, 2024 Listen here Old Growth Forest (2022) 7:35 Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble Commissioned by the OVAA Quartet, Hellgate and Great Falls High Schools Premiered by Hellgate High School in April 2023. Listen here Just to Love You (2022) 3:45 Vocal Duet with Piano Accompaniment Written in Collaboration with Colleague Azure Larkwood. Premiered Fall 2022 The Peace of Wild Places (2022) 6:08 For Solo Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble Commissioned by Antonio Jarvey and the Great Falls Municipal sBand, premiered July 2022. Listen here Where Are You Now (2021) 4:02 Written for Tenor Voice and Piano Comissioned by Leasi Mana Premiered at the Spring Composers Showcase 2022 by Leasi Mana (Tenor) and Matthew Knight (Piano). Listen here Late to Class (2021) 4:02 Written for Solo Piano Premiered by Thomas Kotcheff, November 29th 2021 Listen here
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States of Mind (2021) 7:55 I. Selcouth II. Saudade III. Natsukashii For Tuba and Euphonium Quartet A compositional collaboration with colleague Sylvia Wood and the Tubissimo Quartet. Premiered at the Spring Composers Showcase 2021. Songs from the Sands (2020) 6:16 For Alto Saxophone Solo Commissioned by Antonio Jarvey and premiered at the Fall 2020 Composers Showcase Listen here
FULL LIST OF COMPLETED COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR PREMIERES Time Denoted Minutes: Seconds Cloudburst (in progress) Commissioned by the Montana Flute Association for presentation to the National Flute Association Rooted (in progress) Commissioned by Gray Smiley (Doctoral Horn Student) for his Final Doctoral Recital Temporal (in progress) Commissioned by the James Madison College of Visual Arts and Media for upcoming multidisciplinary trip to Portugal. Wind Quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet in Bb, Bassoon and Alto Saxophone Featuring choreography Come to the mountains with these wildflower dreams (2025) For Saxophone Quartet Recorded by JMU Invicta Quartet Pyra (2025) For Wind Symphony and Percussion Lanterns (2025) For Tenor and Bass voice, and Flute Premiered August 2025 at Sherborne Summer School of Music Confluence (2025) For two pianos, 4 hands Written for Sherborne Summer School of Music Premiered by Sasha Velgosha and Alyssa Conde through the American Liszt Society Piano Trio No. 1 “Sensations” (2025) For Piano Trio I. Coddiwompling II. Ambedo From Peaks to Prairie (2025) 4:50 For Symphony Orchestra Listen here
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Earthsong (2024) 3:30 For SATB Choir Commissioned by the Aiga Singers, led by Leasi Mana Ponderosa (2024) For Flute and Piano Premiered November 2025 by Daniel Esperante and Shkurta Gashi at James Madison University. Listen here Heimweh (2024) For Full Orchestra and Percussion Commissioned by the Butte Symphony for their 75th Anniversary in 2024. Listen here Letters from the Sky (2023) 7:41 Chamber Orchestra and Percussion Premiered at Isabelle M. Pearson’s Senior Recital by the Pearson Chamber Orchestra. Listen here Serenade to a Worm (2023) 2:12 Clarinet in Bb and Piano Premiered at Isabelle M. Pearson’s Senior Recital by David Stewart (Clarinet) and Matthew Knight (Piano). Dance of the Fireflies (2023) 1:35 Flute and Oboe Duet Premiered at Isabelle M. Pearson’s Senior Recital by Isabelle Pearson (Flute) and Emily Fink (Oboe). Old Growth Forest (2022) 7:35 Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble Commissioned by the OVAA Quartet, Hellgate and Great Falls High Schools Premiered by Hellgate High School in April 2023. Listen here Petrichor (2023) 4:20 For Solo Piano and Extended Techniques Premiered at the Spring Composers Showcase 2023. Serenade to the Stones (2023) 5:00 For Flute and Electronics Premiered at Isabelle M. Pearson’s Senior Flute Recital with assistance from Dr. Bryan Kurt Kostors. Just to Love You (2022) 3:45 Vocal Duet with Piano Accompaniment Written in Collaboration with Colleague Azure Larkwood. The Peace of Wild Places (2022) 6:08 For Solo Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble Commissioned by Antonio Jarvey and the Great Falls Municipal Band, premiered July 2022. Listen here In the Trees, With the River (2021) 3:00 Seven Part Flute Choir Premiered at Isabelle M. Pearson’s Junior Flute Recital by the University of Montana Flute Choir.
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Listen here To Begin Again (2021) 4:46 Written for Alto Saxophone, Bassoon, Euphonium, Piano, and Cello Premiered at the Spring 2021 Composers Showcase by Antonio Jarvey (Alto Sax.), Jacob Logan (Bassoon), Jethro Thorne (Euphonium), Piano (Matthew Knight), and Marley Ball (Cello). Listen here Where Are You Now (2021) 4:02 Written for Tenor Voice and Piano Premiered at the Spring Composers Showcase 2022 by Leasi Mana (Tenor) and Matthew Knight (Piano) Listen here States of Mind (2021) 7:55 I. Selcouth II. Saudade III. Natsukashii For Tuba and Euphonium Quartet A compositional collaboration with colleague Sylvia Wood and the Tubissimo Quartet. Premiered at the Spring Composers Showcase 2021 Late to Class (2020) 2:00 For Solo Piano Premiered at the Thomas Kotcheff Composers Concert Fall 2021, by Thomas Kotcheff from HOCKET Songs from the Sands (2020) 6:16 For Alto Saxophone Solo Commissioned by Antonio Jarvey and premiered at the Fall 2020 Composers Showcase Listen here The Faerie Ring (2020) 2:37 For Woodwind Quintet Premiered at the Fall 2020 Composers Showcase. Listen here Moondance (2019) 2:00 Flute and Clarinet Duet Premiered at Isabelle Pearson’s Undergraduate Examination Spring 2020
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Plenary Presenter at the Collegiate Music Teachers National Association Conference in Fort Worth, Texas • January 2023 • “From Student to Studio” Presenter at the Montana Music Teachers National Association Conference in Great Falls, Montana • January 2022 • “Personality Types and Piano”
RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE Graduate Assistant: Teacher of Aural Skills, Music Theory, and Orchestration Teaching weekly classes in Aural Skills and lecturing in Orchestration Running checkpoint exams and tutoring
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Musical Theater Pit Musician September 2016 – Spring 2025 Plays include: Fiddler on the Roof Peter and Starcatcher Big Fish Private Piano and Flute Teacher September 2016 – Current • Had maintained a studio of approximately 12-14 students in Missoula, MT. • Assisting flute students at local grade schools around the Missoula Area. • Currently teaches a flute student and a piano student in the Harrisonburg, VA area. Composition Teacher at PLAY Piano Academy September 2023 – June 2024 Collaborative Pianist Fall 2019 – Present • Vocal, Instrumental Lessons and Juries • Pit Musician • Faculty and Student Recitals • Musical Theater Audition Sessions • Church Pianist Archiving the Studio of Composer David Maslanka May – August 2023 • Cataloging scores and equipment in the office of David Maslanka • Computer database work • Photography and preservation techniques Office Manager at the International Choral Festival January – August 2023 Completing a variety of outreach, data organization, event planning, and coordinating duties to help bring the festival to Missoula. Grant writing Coordinating hosts for participants and housing Social Media Advertising
UNIVERSITY SERVICE Teaching Assistant at James Madison University for Music Composition
Fall 2024- Current
Davidson Honors College Ambassador Fall 2019- Spring 2023 Working with Dean and staff to assist incoming students, helping recruit and welcome new members. President of Student Music Union Fall 2022- Spring 2023 Advocating and acting as a voice for fellow music students. Budgeting funds allocated by Associated Students of Montana (ASUM) Student Government. Approving Expense Requests and helping student groups within the Union to be recognized and receive funding.
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Volunteer Manager for All Star Band Festival Communicating tasks and checking in volunteers and in charge of additional duties that directors could not take care of.
Fall 2022
President of University of Montana Flute Choir Fall 2021-Spring 2022 Handled funding for student groups as well as organization and management of travel and performances and secured funding for a new Alto Flute. Treasurer for Wind Music Association Fall 2021- Spring 2022 Handled funding for student groups as well as organization and management of travel and performance.
ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES German: Fluent/Native Speaker Citizenship: Dual with Germany and United States of America
SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES TAKEN MUS 750: Graduate Seminar – Introduction to Historically Informed Performance (Spring 2025) • • • •
develop a working understanding of Historically Informed Performance as branch of musical practice through class discussions and recent scholarship explore specific performing techniques and issues in music of the Baroque era through both primary sources and recent research better understand and examine critically the ideas of “authenticity” and “historically informed performance” completed a research project and presentation on a relevant topic: Applying Historical Performance to Debussy’s Music
MUS 750: Graduate Seminar – Improvisation in World Cultures (Fall 2025) •
an examination within various global traditions, including but not limited to jazz, Indian ragas, dance, theater, Baroque performance practice, the blues, and literature
CREATIVE/PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE Sherborne Summer School of Music Composition Workshop (UK) Composed and premiered works in Sherborne, United Kingdom, July/August 2025 - Went as both a composer and performer, writing two pieces for the course, and premiering 7 other pieces involving flute and piano. Member of the James Madison University Wind Symphony Premier Performing group, concerts include concerts include four or more per semester including outreach - Ensemble selected to play in the College Band Directors National Association Conference in Florida, February 2026. Member of the University of Montana Symphonic Wind Ensemble • Performances include: two concerts per semester, and travel in the spring for outreach. Member of the University of Montana Keyboard Society • Performances include Pianissimo! (Piano fundraiser event and concert), monthly keyboard recitals, Junior, and Senior recitals, accompanying, teaching, and playing in student ensembles. Member of the University of Montana Flute Choir • Performances include Montana Flute Association chamber groups and masterclasses, guest artist series, student ensembles, junior and senior recitals, and community outreach
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Study Abroad to Salzburg, Austria for Music • Took courses in choral and orchestral Conducting, Musical Form and Analysis, History, attended concerts, and traveled throughout Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. University of Montana Gamelan Ensemble 2022 Junior Flute/Composition Recital 11/7/2021 Junior Piano Recital 5/4/2022 Senior Flute Recital 2/25/2023 Senior Piano and Composition Recital: Letters from the Sky 5/6/2023 Substitute Flutist/Piccolo Player for Bozeman Symphony 2022 -2023 Season Substitute Flutist/Piccolo Player for Missoula Symphony 2022-2023, 2023-2024 Season Principal Flutist in the Inaugural Performance of the Montana Youth Symphony 2023 Principal Flutist in the Montana Youth Symphony 2024
PRIMARY INSTRUCTORS AND REFERENCES (List of solo repertoire available upon request) Composition: Dr. Eric Guinivan – James Madison University Faculty Dr. Jason Haney - James Madison University Faculty Dr. Bryan Kurt Kostors - University of Montana Faculty Flute: Dr. Beth Chandler-Cahill – James Madison University Faculty Dr. Sue Makeever - Montana State University Faculty Dr. Jennifer Cooper - University of Montana Faculty Dr. Tiana Grisé - Missoula, Montana Dr. Stephen Clark - Northwestern State University Faculty Piano: Dr. Paulo Steinberg, James Madison University Faculty Dr. Margery Whatley - University of Montana Faculty Dr. Christopher Hahn - University of Montana Faculty Steven Hesla - University of Montana Faculty Kenneth Christenson - Montana State University Faculty Nancy Wilson - Bozeman, Montana
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