Nolan Stolz was born in Milwaukee, WI but grew up in Las Vegas, NV, where he worked for nine years as a freelance jazz drummer before moving to Oregon for graduate school. Dr. Stolz joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina Upstate in 2014 and has taught composition, music theory, jazz, popular music studies, and drum set at several other universities and community colleges as well.
Although firmly rooted in the contemporary classical tradition, Stolz’s compositions are clearly influenced by his performance background in jazz and rock. His output includes many works for solo instrument, small ensemble, and large ensemble works such as the Lincoln Highway Suite for symphony orchestra.
Stolz grew up in Las Vegas, NV, where he worked for several years as a freelance jazz drummer. He has performed and/or recorded with a variety of bands in styles such as progressive rock, jazz-rock fusion, avant-garde, J-Pop, indie rock, and straight-ahead jazz.
As a scholar, Stolz is best known for his work on the music of Black Sabbath such as his book Experiencing Black Sabbath: A Listener’s Companion, various articles and essays, and public scholarship posted on YouTube. He has also published on the music of Genesis, Rush, and Frank Zappa and on jazz theory and improvisation. Stolz regularly presents his scholarship at conferences in the U.S. and Europe.