The Observer, October 21, 2005
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8
Student's composition to be published by international house
Pulling off a double major as an engineer and graduating on time at Case is something like being Batman and also working as an ER doctor when the Bat Signal isn't on. It's non-stop. Fulfilling all engineering requirements and being Case's premiere composition major is something like being… insane. Or like being Hunter Ewen, a senior mechanical engineer and Case's first composition major (the major is so new it hasn't yet been approved by the Music Department). But presumably going for four years without sleep isn't what makes Ewen remarkable. It's going four years without sleep and also being the youngest person ever to have work published by internationally known publishing house Alfonse LeDuc.
That's right. While you and I mere mortals were struggling through our Introductory Mechanics homework, Ewen was arranging an aria by Eugene Bozza for string orchestra and saxophone, to be recorded by a Grammy-nominated artist Gregory Banaszak. How long does translating a piece from one form to another take? Only about a month or two, according to Ewen; probably because he's been composing since seventh grade and has had over a dozen pieces premiere since coming to Case in 2002. Not that keeping up with two completely different majors hasn't been difficult: "It comes in waves," said Ewen, "you have to prioritize." That's probably an understatement.
While it may seem unusual that an aspiring composer would stick with mechanical engineering even after deciding to pursue music as a career, Ewen foresees that his technical background will be useful in the future. One of his current projects is for the new cross-disciplinary video game EECS course: thanks to his engineering experience, he anticipates integrating the score himself into the video game. That's not something you learn to do in music theory.
Already in his senior year in college, Ewen is the author of numerous works ranging from impossible-to-play flute quintets to saxophone ensemble pieces to his latest, an orchestral work based on Hamelin – "as in the rats," says Ewen. "It picks up after the rats are gone and the Pied Piper steals their children." This dark and satirical piece is being premiered by the Symphonic Winds on March 5. It's clear that this talented composer can find inspiration anywhere, "I once wrote a piece on a plane… it was very bombastic." Some of his other projects include a relaxation CD for Educational Support Services, though Ewen anticipates that this will be less music and more random sounds.
As for long term goals, after his first internationally published piece debuts, Hunter anticipates getting away from Cleveland for graduate school, then hopefully teaching and composing as desired. Whatever he chooses to do, this talented young composer is off to a great start.
