"The parallels between...the 1930s and what is happening today are significant"
"The parallels between what was happening in the 1930s and what is happening today are significant, both economically and socially," said Jay Fluellen, Musical Coordinator and pianist for Spare A Dime at the 2013 Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts. "Some of the same struggles people of the United States faced then are being faced again today. Music is the perfect vehicle for illustrating these connections; Spare A Dime references a previous time while vividly portraying ideas in a modern context. I am looking forward to bringing the completed work to life."
Fluellen is a Philadelphia-born composer, music professor, educator, accompanist, pianist, singer, and organist/choir director. He has a doctorate in music composition from Temple University in addition to certification in music from Eastern University. Fluellen is currently a teacher with the School District of Philadelphia at Parkway West High School. He has taught college level courses in music composition, written and aural theory, music history, piano, and conducting at major institutions including Lincoln University, Morgan State University, and the University of the Arts. Numerous organizations have commissioned his compositions, including Network for New Music, Opera Philadelphia, Relâche, Settlement School of Music, and Singing City. Since 1997, he has been an organist/choir director at the historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. Fluellen has received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Distinguished Teaching Award given to high school teachers in the School District of Philadelphia. In 2011, Fluellen’s Of Journeys and Refuge, a work commissioned by the Bucks County Choral Society for choir and jazz ensemble, was premiered featuring his own quintet in the performance. In 2012, the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Chancel Choir, under Fluellen's direction, was featured in concert with the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia as part of their third annual Big Sing.
Fluellen is a Philadelphia-born composer, music professor, educator, accompanist, pianist, singer, and organist/choir director. He has a doctorate in music composition from Temple University in addition to certification in music from Eastern University. Fluellen is currently a teacher with the School District of Philadelphia at Parkway West High School. He has taught college level courses in music composition, written and aural theory, music history, piano, and conducting at major institutions including Lincoln University, Morgan State University, and the University of the Arts. Numerous organizations have commissioned his compositions, including Network for New Music, Opera Philadelphia, Relâche, Settlement School of Music, and Singing City. Since 1997, he has been an organist/choir director at the historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. Fluellen has received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Distinguished Teaching Award given to high school teachers in the School District of Philadelphia. In 2011, Fluellen’s Of Journeys and Refuge, a work commissioned by the Bucks County Choral Society for choir and jazz ensemble, was premiered featuring his own quintet in the performance. In 2012, the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Chancel Choir, under Fluellen's direction, was featured in concert with the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia as part of their third annual Big Sing.