Studied music, art and literature at Allegheny College
Composition studies with Harold Boatrite

Longtime staff member, University of the Arts, Philadelphia (1971-1994)

John Caldwell composed works for orchestra, band, chorus, chamber ensembles, and solo marimba.

His music was performed by the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus, the Amado Quartet, Dorothy Stone with the National Association of American Composers and Conductors, and John DeLancie with the Mostovoy Soloists and the Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, among others.

In 1979 Caldwell took a one-year appointment as composer-in-residence with the Kane, Pennsylvania school system with support from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

He wrote music criticism for the newspaper Philadelphia After Dark, and was a longtime staff member at the University of the Arts (formerly Philadelphia College of Art).

John Caldwell died of AIDS in Clarion, Pennsylvania at the age of 47 on January 13, 1995.

—Nurit Tilles

WORKS:

CHAMBER

Romance for Oboe and Strings (original version)
for: oboe and string quartet
date: 1973-74
duration: 8:00
premiere: Dorothy Stone, oboe, National Association for Composers and Conductors, Philadelphia 10/12/75
note: see also transcription for oboe and string orchestra

Romance for Oboe and Strings (transcription)
for: oboe and string orchestra
date: ?
duration: 8:00
premiere: John DeLancie, oboe, Mostovoy Soloists, Marc Mostovoy, conductor, Philadelphia 1/26/76
source: Free Library of Philadelphia

INSTRUMENTAL

Suite for Solo Marimba
performed: 1994

CHORAL

Swift Illusions
for: men's chorus
date: ?
text: ?
performed: Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus, December 1994

UNCOMPLETED WORKS:
Unknown

WRITINGS:
Music reviews for Philadelphia After Dark.

DISCOGRAPHY:
No professionally released recordings

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• Obituary, The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 17, 1995.

PERFORMING RIGHTS AFFILIATION:
Unknown

RESOURCES:
Unknown

MUSICAL EXECUTOR:
Unknown

OTHER CONTACTS:
Unknown