The Lawrence University community is saddened by news of the death of Jennifer Fitzgerald on December 23rd, following an extended battle with cancer.
Jennifer was an instructor of music at Lawrence and a former Lawrence postdoctoral fellow.
While teaching in the Conservatory of Music she was very active in exploring new, interdisciplinary forms of composition. She also taught individual lessons, tutorials, and workshops with great passion, and great success.
“I am attracted to writing for unusual instrumental combinations,” she wrote on her web site, “combining ringing ambient sounds with driving rhythms, often in layers of activity. In my music I contrast high energy and trance states … popular music and culture play a vital role in my composing.”
Her original compositions include Sometimes the Sun for soprano and cello, Prelude, A Wedding Toast for solo piano, Ice for violin, cello and piano, and 2 in the Corner for two electric guitars. In February 2007, she performed the world premiere of her composition, Incident, at the Kayyem Convocation at Lawrence. Artists including Robert Black, Capital M, Innovata Brass and Dan Trueman have also performed her music. In addition, she was the co-founder/co-artistic director and pianist for pulsoptional, a new music ensemble and composers’ collective.
In addition to performing at Lawrence, Jennifer appeared at Adelphi University, Duke University, Tufts University, Greensboro College, and at music festivals and events throughout the east coast.
Jennifer was named as an alternate Fellow at the American Academy in Berlin (2007-2008) and received the 2006 Meet the Composer Creative Connections Award, and was recognized as a “gifted young composer” by Alex Ross (music critic for The New Yorker.)
Born July 8, 1975, in New York City, Jennifer received her B.A. in music from Tufts University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in music composition from Duke University.
She is survived by her father and step-mother, Stephen and Leslie Fitzgerald of Savannah, Ga., her mother, step-father and sister, Candee, Mark and Rebecca Shepard of New York City; and her partner, Charles Jester of Appleton.
The memorial service for Jennifer was held Friday, Dec. 28, at the Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors Hodgson Chapel, in Savannah, Ga.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Lawrence University, Duke University, or Tufts University.