Stolz has a unique compositional voice in the contemporary classical music world: one that is clearly influenced by his performance background in jazz fusion and progressive rock, yet firmly rooted in the contemporary classical tradition. Although the music sounds expressive, natural and raw, the notation is very precise (for example, the use of microtones and complex rhythms).
His compositions have been performed throughout the United States, Canada, South America, and across Europe, including festivals such as the Academie Internationale d'Ete de Nice (FRANCE), Suolahti International Summer Music Festival (FINLAND), Belvedere Chamber Music Festival, Electroacoustic Juke Joint, eXtensible Electric Guitar Festival, Las Vegas International New Music Festival, Las Vegas Music Festival, Music Today Festival, and the Oregon Bach Festival. He has been commissioned by the Alturas Duo, CCSU Chamber Players, Synchronix, LVA Jazz Ensemble, Las Vegas Music Festival Orchestra, SUNY-Stony Brook, Aaron Larget-Caplan, Leslie Ann Leytham, Robert Plotkin and Peter Scuderi. Stolz was awarded the Max DiJulio Composition Prize, second prize in the New Zealand Association of Organists International Competition, and the Most Outstanding Student Composition Award at the 2009 College Music Society Northeast Conference. His Lullaby for Sam was recently released on Aaron Larget-Caplan's New Lullaby CD from the Six Strings Sounds label, and his second piano quartet Catharsis II will be released on Millennial Masters Volume 3 from Ablaze Records in February 2012. Other commercial releases are forthcoming.
As a music theorist, Stolz has lectured at Queen's University (Canada), The Hartt School, MACRO Musicians' Workshop, and several regional and national conferences (Society of Inc. and College Music Society). Although best known for his analytical system for microtonal music he calls "Fractional Set Theory," Stolz has also given papers on theory-composition pedagogy and jazz improvisation pedagogy. His article on Schoenberg's fourth string quartet is available online.
Stolz is very interested in Hawaiian history and culture, and has spent a considerable amount of time in Hawaii. Several of his compositions take on Hawaiian themes. Mele Hoipoipopo and Why Waianaie? for wind ensemble, Princess Kaiulani for flute, Kaena Point for piano quartet, Legend of Waianapanapa Caves for violin (or viola) and piano (with optional dance), and Makaha Valley for chamber ensemble are a few compositions based on Hawaiian people and locations.
Stolz is also a drum set performer in both the rock and jazz idioms, working with notable bands such as Swinging Popsicle, Halloween Town, and Art Rock Circus. He appears on the Johnny Pate 80th birthday concert CD with jazz greats Ron Carter, Phil Woods, Monty Alexander, Kenny Burrell and several others. His solo CD Nolan Stolz Rock Orchestra feautring prog-rock arrangements of "classical" works was released in 2011. He also appears on Halloween Town's 2011 CD Zafra Ct. which features Ryan Pardey, Wes Hines, two members of Louis IV (Jason Hill & Brian Karscig) and three members of The Killers (Dave Keuning, Tommy Marth, and Mark Stoermer).
Dr. Stolz holds degrees from The Hartt School, University of Oregon, and UNLV. His composition teachers include Virko Baley, Robert Carl, David Crumb, Robert Kyr, Larry Alan Smith and Ken Steen.
Dr. Stolz is Assistant Professor of Music at the University of South Dakota where he teaches music theory and composition. He has held faculty positions at Naugatuck Valley Community College, Three Rivers Community College, and at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Contact Nolan at: nolan@nolanstolz.com