Philip Schuessler – President’s Award for Excellence in Creative Activity

Music has the power to tell stories, challenge assumptions, and create experiences that linger long after the final note fades. For Dr. Philip Schuessler, composing is more than an artistic pursuit—it is a lifelong commitment to expanding the possibilities of sound and inspiring others to explore new musical horizons.

A composer, songwriter, conductor, performer, and artist, Schuessler has spent his career pushing the boundaries of contemporary music. A member of the Southeastern faculty since 2010, he writes for electronic instruments and live performers ranging from soloists to full symphonic orchestras, building a body of work that has earned recognition from musicians and audiences around the world.

Over the past 25 years, Schuessler has composed approximately 140 works for a variety of ensembles and electronic media. His music draws inspiration from sources as diverse as popular and rock music, experimental improvisation, spectralism, natural and scientific processes, and countercultural political theater.

“Dr. Schuessler has more albums released and compositions published than anyone else in the department,” said Music and Performing Arts Interim Department Head Logan Place. “His output of music is truly impressive.”

That remarkable output has reached audiences far beyond Louisiana. World-renowned artists and ensembles, including Bergamot String Quartet, Yarn/Wire, Loadbang, and Hypercube, have performed Schuessler’s works at festivals and conferences throughout the United States and abroad. He has also collaborated with artists in other disciplines, composing music for video, dance, and art installations.

His musical scores are published by six companies, including his own, Pendula Music. Schuessler is also assistant artistic director, co-founder, and conductor of Versipel New Music. Over the past 12 years, he has helped present more than 50 concerts featuring contemporary works by living composers from around the world. As chair of the Louisiana Music Teachers Association Commissioned Composer Program, he has further championed new music by supporting local and regional composers.

Schuessler’s impact is equally evident in the classroom. Since 2016, he has composed 62 works, with 25 performed at Southeastern concerts. Approximately half were written specifically for student soloists or ensembles, including the Southeastern Louisiana Symphonic Orchestra.

In 2018, he designed and implemented the Southeastern Contemporary Music Ensemble, creating opportunities for students to perform music from the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its founding, the ensemble has introduced countless contemporary works to campus audiences.

As an active composer and educator, Schuessler has dedicated himself to creating new music while cultivating appreciation for contemporary musical arts among students and the public.

“Dr. Schuessler is a prolific composer and champion of new music. He is unsurpassed in his compositional ability and dedication to new music,” Place said. “I have never met anyone more enthusiastic and dedicated to contemporary music than Dr. Schuessler.”