We are pleased to formally welcome composer Scott Wheeler to the Opus Imprints family.
Wheeler brings a thoughtful, wide-ranging artistic voice to opera and classical music in ways that connect with audiences worldwide. Wheeler is actively engaged in new projects, continuing to expand his body of work.
As part of this exciting new chapter, Wheeler has been commissioned to write and perform in two special performances in Italy on April 20 and 22, in Bologna and Milan, alongside acclaimed violinists Gil Shaham and Markus Placci where Wheeler will be playing piano in both of these performances.
These performances will present a thoughtfully curated program of works for two violins, both with and without piano accompaniment, and will include the world premiere of Scott’s suite, Borderlands, dedicated to Shaham and Placci.
The premiere of Borderlands represents a significant artistic milestone, celebrating the collaboration between Scott Wheeler and Gil Shaham. This partnership brings together internationally recognized artistry and distinct musical perspectives, marking an important moment in Scott’s ongoing creative journey and underscoring the significance of these performances.
In addition, Scott’s concerto Birds of America was featured on Gil Shaham’s album Premieres, released by Canary Classics. The piece, originally premiered in 2021 by Shaham, Leon Botstein, and The Orchestra Now (TŌN) at the Fisher Center at Bard and Carnegie Hall, draws inspiration from a range of bird calls, including those of the hawk, whippoorwill, loons, mourning dove, and downy woodpecker.
Wheeler is a critically acclaimed composer whose work has garnered praise from major publications. The Washington Post described his cabaret song cycle A Woman of Her Time: Coco Chanel Sings on the life of fashion designer Coco Chanel as “eruditely composed and splendidly executed by the expanded consort ensemble — a pleasure from beginning to end.”
His music has also been recognized by The New York Times, which highlighted selections from his ongoing series Portraits and Tributes. The review noted that the works “recalled Virgil Thomson’s elegant solo-piano portraits,” and praised the premieres of Island Lullaby and Firefly Lullaby for their “uneven, twinkling rhythms that are both unpredictable and serene.” The two lullabies, they observed, frame Cookie Galop With Waltz, a piece whose “dotted rhythms start exuberant and then turn softly elegiac.”
Wheeler composes across multiple genres, including opera, vocal, chamber, orchestral, and solo piano music. His work is known for its clear structure and expressive range, moving effectively between small and large ensembles. Wheeler’s most known for his works titled A Woman of Her Time: Coco Chanel Sings for vocal and piano, Birds of America for orchestra, City of Shadows for Chamber orchestra, and Blue Ridge Suite for viola and piano.
Along with being an active composer, Wheeler is a performing pianist and is inspired by a long lineage of composers and piano players from generations before him. We’re honored and privileged to represent Wheeler’s expansive catalog and welcome any inquiries into performance details, perusal scores, or publishing information.