A. Douglas Biggs DMA – Tunesmith Music

A. Douglas Biggs DMA lives in Fern Creek, Kentucky, just outside of Louisville. He owns Tunesmith Music where he works as a composer, arranger, editor and music engraver. Dr. Biggs is a recognized expert in the music processing platforms Finale and Sibelius as well as music notation, theory and orchestration. In recent years he has become more involved with audio processing and recording using the Cubase platform.

Biggs received his bachelor degree from Dartmouth College, his master’s degree in music theory and composition from the University of Louisville School of Music and holds a doctorate in composition from the University of Kentucky School of Music. His principal teachers have been David Evan Jones, Gerald Gable, and John Appleton at Dartmouth, Nelson Keyes, Claude Baker, and Steve Rouse at the University of Louisville, and Joseph Baber and Phillip Miller at the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Biggs is widely experienced, composer, performer and artist. His work spans a wide range of styles and genres. He is the creator of numerous works for orchestra, band, chamber music, chorus, and a growing involvement in video, film and game projects. His career includes experience as a professional opera singer, jazz pianist, accompanist, repetiteur, repertoire coach and voice teacher. He has also conducted on several occasions.

As a composer, Biggs has received several awards and other recognition. While at the University of Kentucky, he was a two-time recipient of the Al Haig graduate fellowship and a recipient of a Rudolf Nissim/ASCAP Award. His Haiku, a suite for Violin and Piano was a winner of the Austin Peay State University Composer’s Competition and was featured in a concert of American Composers in Russia. Later, he would receive high praise for his work as composer and music director of the documentary “The Indian Picture Opera, a Vanishing Race,” and was the recipient of a “Distinguished Musician” designation for his The Merton Songs by the IBLA Foundation’s World Music Competition. His company, Tunesmith, was recognized by the Music Publisher’s Association with a Revere Award for his work on Henry Mollicone’s Gabriel’s Daughter.

For many years, Biggs was a touring operatic tenor and recitalist. As a singer, he was a winner of numerous competitions and awards, including the Metropolitan Opera Competition, the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, a nominee for the Richard Tucker Award, a Chicago Lyric Opera Ensemble Finalist, a Liederkrantz Wagnerian Singer competition, and the Baltimore Opera Competition.

During his years as a performer, Biggs appeared with various opera companies, orchestras and in recital around the country. For two years, he was a resident artist with Opera Colorado, spent time in a touring company of Phantom of the Opera, was a singer in several studio recordings and a soloist in the premier of an oratorio based on music from the movie Warriors of Virtue. An interesting challenge was presented by his participation in a “Reader’s Digest condensed version” of Wagner’s Ring Cycle singing sections of the various tenor roles, Siegfried, Siegmund, Loge and Froh, all in the same evening!

Biggs’ music is available directly through his web site www.douglasbiggs.com, and www.sheetmusicplus.com. Inquiries about his music preparation services may be directed to his web site www.tunesmithmusic.com or to the email info@tunesmithmusic.com.

Testimonials

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Douglas Biggs and Tunesmith Music on two violin concerti, several works for choir and orchestra, and a number of chamber music works, each of which he’s delivered beautifully engraved scores and perfectly laid out parts. Doug has always delivered files on time and has provided reliable and expert feedback and advice on all things music notation whenever needed. He is the consummate professional and a pleasure to work with.

Kareem Roustom

Composer-in-residence emeritus with the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen | the Grand Teton Music Festival | the Grant Park Music Festival

I have had the great pleasure of working with Dr. A. Douglas Biggs of Tunesmith Music off and on for the past twenty years. His music engraving work is nothing less than excellent. He knows the subtleties of music notation better than practically anyone I have encountered, and his attention to detail is extraordinary. The number of mistakes he makes is remarkably low. Arguably most importantly, he is a pleasure with whom to work. I dropped many a contractor in the past for copping an attitude. Doug is the opposite. He is a colleague and a friend. I highly recommend Doug.

Dr. Stanley M. Hoffman

E. C. Schirmer Music Publishing

Anyone looking for quality, consistent engravings should look no further than Tunesmith Music. Doug always delivers on time, makes any edits quickly, and clearly takes great care in his work. He has produced engravings for our scholarly choral publication for many years, and I appreciate his expertise and professionalism. Highly recommend.

Amanda Bumgarner

American Choral Directors Association Publications Editor | Choral Journal Editor

Douglas Biggs is skilled as a composer, music editor, and engraver. As a composer, his cycle of Thomas Merton texts is sensitive and beautiful; as an editor, he has done excellent work for me; as a music engraver, he is by far the most skillful and knowledgeable Music engraver I have worked with. In this capacity, he has worked with major composers and publishers; Finally, his friendly disposition and personality has made working together an enjoyable activity for many years. Let me say that I think he is most suitable for any jobs that require his skills.

Henry Mollicone

Professional Composer | Conductor | Pianist

I hired Douglas to prepare my music scores for publication, both orchestra and chamber music, make arrangements of orchestra music for different mediums and create files for proofreading purposes. He is an expert and the accuracy of his music copying cannot be better. He is always reliable, on time and flexible when changes need to be made. Highest recommendation.

Su Lian Tan

Su Lian Tan | Professional Composer and Flautist | Middlebury College Fletcher Professor of the Arts

Douglas Biggs is an amazing musician, composer and arranger. He has brought an extra zip to my compositions in his production of my works. He lifts my raw works from the manuscripts and gives them a stunning look, much to my delight! He is not timid in offering suggestions when he deems them necessary. He takes time to listen to you, thus offering another approach to what’s on paper. In short, he sets you thinking. Sometimes he will save you money if one follows his advice. I repeat that Doug gives you quality work. Don’t hesitate to reach out to him.

Hugh Goodridge

Professional Composer and Music Educator

I have worked with Douglas Biggs (Tunesmith Music) for over 15 years now. His music engraving is of the highest quality. Doug is prompt, professional and personable. I enjoy our daily communications. And, as an additional skill, Doug offers expertise in creating clever cover designs for scores when I request. Thus, he “goes the extra mile” for a top-rate music preparation.

Gwyneth Walker

Composer