Evan Chambers (born 1963, in Alexandria, Louisiana) is a composer, traditional Irish fiddler, and Professor of Composition at the University of Michigan. He received a Doctorate in music composition from the University of Michigan. His teachers include William Albright for whose

Requiem A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead ( la, Missa pro defunctis) or Mass of the dead ( la, Missa defunctorum), is a Mass of the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, ...

he composed ''Lament'', Leslie Bassett, Nicholas Thorne, and

Marilyn Shrude Marilyn Shrude (born July 6, 1946) is an American composer of contemporary classical music and pianist, and Distinguished Artist Professor of composition at Bowling Green State University, since 1977. Life Born in Chicago, Illinois, Shrude grad ...

, with studies in electronic music with George Wilson and Burton Beerman. He is a member of the Lindisfarne Association. Chambers' compositions are deeply rooted in folk music, his own spirituality, and a keen comprehension of musical gesture and form. His works for large ensemble include ''The Old Burying Ground'' for soprano, tenor, folksinger and orchestra, ''Concerto for Fiddle and Violin'' for Irish fiddler, violin soloist, and orchestra; ''Three Islands'' for orchestra; ''The Tall-Eared Fox and the Wild-Eyed Man'' for string orchestra; and ''Polka Nation'' for wind ensemble. His chamber music includes ''Come Down Heavy'', ''Cold Water, Dry Stone'' and ''Crazed for the Flame''. His electronic music compositions include ''Rothko-Tobey Continuum'' for violin and tape and ''Cell Phone Java Bodhi Svaha'', with video by

Andy Kirshner Andy Kirshner is an American composer, performer, writer, and media artist. He is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, jointly appointed by the School of Art and Design and the School of Music. He holds a doctorate in music composit ...

based on Buddhist-themed poetry by Chambers. Chambers' music has been recorded on the compact disks ''The Old Burying Ground'' ( Dorian Sono Luminus DSL-92113), ''Cold Water, Dry Stone'' (Albany, Troy 422), ''Brutal Reality'' (Albany, Troy 354), ''Simple Requests'' (Cambria CD-1088), "Collaborations" (Equilibrium CD-66), ''Alternating Currents'' (Centaur CRC 2492) and "Beyond the Red Line" (Mark Custom MCD-6537). In 2021, when University of Michigan composition faculty member Bright Sheng screened 90 minutes of

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the Theatre of the U ...

's blackface performance of

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...

for his undergraduate seminar without context or discussion, the students petitioned for his removal from the class and Evan Chambers gave the following quote to the campus newspaper: “To show the film now, especially without substantial framing, content advisory and a focus on its inherent racism is in itself a racist act, regardless of the professor’s intentions. We need to acknowledge that as a community.”

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University of Michigan faculty Musicians from Ann Arbor, Michigan American Buddhists Living people 21st-century classical composers 1963 births University of Michigan alumni 21st-century American composers American male classical composers American classical composers Classical musicians from Michigan 21st-century American male musicians {{US-composer-20thC-stub