John Diercks was born in Montclair, New Jersey, in 1927 He holds degrees from Oberlin, the Eastman School, and the University of Rochester (PhD) His composition teachers included Howard Hanson and Alan Hovhaness For Asian music and dance he studied with Dorothy Kahananui and Halla Huhm His postgraduate study was at the University of Hawaii, the University of North Carolina, Catholic University, the University of Washington, and Columbia Teachers College Dr Diercks taught piano at the College of Wooster (1950-54), then began a long tenure at Hollins University, teaching theory and composition He served as Music Department Chair from 1962 until 1990 and was Chair for the Sallie Gray Shepherd Concert Series (1962-1990) In southern Virginia, Dr Diercks was Music Chair of the Roanoke Valley Bicentennial Celebration (1975-1976) and President of the Chrystal Springs Music Publishers, Inc (19781998) Among many grants and awards he has received are those from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Southern Foundation for the Humanities, the Mellon and Danforth Foundations (5 times), and ASCAP (15 times) As a composer he has enjoyed residence at the MacDowell Colony, Wolf Trap Farm, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Much of Diercks’ music is influenced by exoticism, including microtonality and “unconventional” musical sounds An early work, Cave Music for vocalise and three players on prepared piano, accompanied a dance performed in Virginia’s Dixie Caverns and broadcast on NBC-TV’s Today Show His Suite No.2 for Orchestra was performed by the National Gallery Orchestra, Washington, D.C., Richard Bales conducting Renowned pianist Roy Hamlin Johnson performed four of Dr Diercks’ 12 Sonatinas on the American Music series at the National Gallery The Twelve Sonatinas, commissioned and performed by pianist Marthanne Verbit, are in the catalog of Albany Records In 2009 the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America published his Fugue in C (for Elizabeth Graves Vitu) and Fantasia (commissioned by the University of IowaAmes) Over 125 of Dr Diercks’ music has been published, for piano, voice, choral, chamber ensemble, and carillon He has written more than 200 reviews and articles in newspapers and journals, and authored two chapters published in the Denes Agay book “Teaching Piano” Diercks lived in Honolulu, and served as president of the Hawaii Music Teachers Association from 1992-96 Since then he has composed/arranged extensively for the Oahu Piano Quartet, and continued to compose for the carillon John Diercks passed away in April 2020, at 92 years old WORKS FOR CARILLON Op 35 Three Pieces for Carillon (1957) Now Appears the Glorious Day Kongaï: The Soul of the Great Bell Prelude to Manvantara 1:30 4:30 4:15 Op 72 Carillon Pieces Brightstar (1970) Fugue for E.G (1978/2007) Prelude on O Sacred Head (1979) 3:00 5:00 2:00 Op 85 An Easter Triptych (1984/2009) Crown Him with Many crowns (Diademata) 2:30 Lo, Upon the altar (Vienna) 4:15 The Day of Resurrection (Ellacombe) 2:30 Fantasia (1988) 10:30 Op 91 Variations on a Latin Chant (1993) Alleluias Solemn and Joyous (1994) 6:00 6:00 Hear the Bells! (2007) Arranged by E.G.Vitu 1:45 A Cross-Section of His 60-Year Compositional Range Clap your hands! for voices and keyboard Concertino for piano and woodwind quintet Divertimento for woodwind quintet Dove of Peace, early American hymn-settings for unison voices with organ and handbells Figures on China for horn, trombone, and tuba Moonspell for flute and piano Of Mountain and Valley (for the Roanoke Symphony) Sonata for oboe and piano Suite for flute and piano Suite for Strings for string orchestra Suite No for piano duet Suite No for orchestra Theme and Variations for piano Three Diversions for flute (alto recorder) and piano (or harpsichord) Toward the Summer Land for two pianos Twelve Sonatinas for piano Variations on a Flower Drum Song for two prepared pianos Variations on a theme of Gottschalk for tuba and piano Vienna: For a Time and Place for two pianos The Warriorʻs Ghost Returns to Play his Lute (Jeanne Larsen) for baritone and string quartet Woodwind Quintet ... Orchestra, Washington, D.C., Richard Bales conducting Renowned pianist Roy Hamlin Johnson performed four of Dr Diercks? ?? 12 Sonatinas on the American Music series at the National Gallery The Twelve... composed/arranged extensively for the Oahu Piano Quartet, and continued to compose for the carillon John Diercks passed away in April 2020, at 92 years old WORKS FOR CARILLON Op 35 Three Pieces for... newspapers and journals, and authored two chapters published in the Denes Agay book “Teaching Piano” Diercks lived in Honolulu, and served as president of the Hawaii Music Teachers Association from