Conductor's Corner with John Dupuis

On composing, the Grove at Mead Botanical Garden inagural performance, and advice to young composers

Headshot John Dupuis NEW

The FSYO is lucky to house 4 diversely talented conductors for our 4 orchestras. In this series, Conductor's Corner, we'll sit down with each of our conductors, and learn more about their individual talents, and their history with the FSYO.

John Dupuis is the Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor, an active orchestral composer, and an FSYO alumni. FSYO sat down with him to learn more about his experience as an orchestral conductor. Read his full bio here.

"Composition is an art form that is best expressed when you are able to be creative and uninhibited in your writing. Don't be afraid to take risks and make mistakes."

FSYO: How long have you been composing? What got you started?

John Dupuis: I've been composing since I was 16 years old. I began writing and arranging music for my high school marching band. After several attempts and seeking to get many questions answered, I began composing for orchestra. When I was 18 and a senior in high school, I wrote 'Atlantis' for the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. It was premiered in February of 1999 with Maestro Andrew Lane conducting. Later that summer, I wrote my second piece, 'The Dancing Pirate', that was premiered by the FSYO in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic.

FSYO: How does being a conductor play into your composing?

JD: As a conductor, I have the opportunity to not only program amazing literature by renowned composers, but also to perform music that I have composed or arranged. In the past few years, the FSYO Philharmonia Orchestra has premiered three of my works. The Philharmonia Orchestra has done a FANTASTIC job of bringing my music to life. In addition, FSYO has performed a total of eight of my compositions since 1999. My music has also been performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchesta, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, the Sarasota Youth Symphony, and many others.

Listen to a recent work by John Dupuis, Fanfare for Orchestra:

FSYO: Have you had any pieces performed? When? And what was it like hearing your writing come to life?

JD: One of the best aspects of being a composer is the opportunity to hear one's music come to life. Although music notation programs play your music back to you, nothing can generate or imitate the sound of a live performance. It is a great feeling to hear your music for the first time, and it's always surprising how much better it sounds live than with a computer program!

FSYO: Working on anything special right now?

JD: Currently I am working on a number of projects, but the most important is a Brass and Percussion fanfare for the opening of the new performance venue, the Grove at Mead Garden. All of the brass and percussion players from the Symphonic, Philharmonia and Prelude Orchestras will perform this fanfare to kick off the concert on Sunday, December 9th, 2012.

FSYO: What advice do you have for any students interested in composing?

JD: My best advice to students interested in learning how to compose is as follows:

Study scores of pieces you like, and pieces you don't like, study everything!
Get a hold of scores of your favorite pieces and learn what techniques the composers used to get the sound they wanted.
As much as you can, put all of your ideas on paper. Being able to notate your ideas is vital to your success.
After you have written some ideas down, have it played, either by your friends, school band or orchestra, or other people/ensembles you know.
Evaluate the things you did well, and check to see if there is anything you would do different next time.
Composition is an art form that is best expressed when you are able to be creative and uninhibited in your writing. Don't be afraid to take risks and make mistakes.
If at all possible, try to take composition lessons. It always helps to have someone guide you in the process.
Every time you write and have music performed, you are growing as a composer. Write as much as you can and get as much of your music played as possible!

Big thanks to John Dupuis for the interview! Any questions for him can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Be sure to come hear the debut of his Fanfare for Brass and Percussion at the inagural performance at the Grove at Mead Botanical Garden!