Philip Schuessler is instructor of music theory and is a composer, songwriter, conductor, performer, and sound artist working in many different styles and genres of contemporary music. Having composed nearly 140 works for various ensembles and electronic media, he takes inspiration from a variety of sources, including popular and rock music, experimental improvisation, spectralism, natural and scientific processes, and countercultural political theater. He has released multiple albums of new electro-acoustic music, and commercial recordings of his music can also be found on various contemporary music releases. His musical scores are published by six different publishing companies including his own Pendula Music. He has received multiple awards for his music, including the Music Teachers National Association Distinguished Composer of the Year. He is assistant artistic director, co-founder, and conductor for Versipel New Music, a non-profit concert presenting organization based in New Orleans. As the chair of the Louisiana Music Teachers Association Commissioned Composer program , he has worked to promote and present new music by local and regional composers. He holds a PhD. in music composition from Stony Brook University, a Masters of Music from the University of Miami, and his Bachelors Degree is from Birmingham-Southern College. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in music theory, analysis, counterpoint, and composition.
Experimental musical composition, with a particular emphasis on electro-acoustic music, graphic notation, and spectralism, and approach to writing music using acoustic data.
