Jordan Kuspa’s music has been praised in the New York Times as “animated and melodically opulent” and “consistently alive and inspired.”  His compositions have been performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony, 21st Century Consort, Xanthos Ensemble, Ensemble SurPlus, Duo Scordatura, Linden String Quartet, organist Chelsea Chen, violist Brett Deubner, Yale Camerata, and the Yale Philharmonia, among others.  Jordan’s music has been performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall, as well as in Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, South Korea, Switzerland, and Turkey.  His works have been commissioned by the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the American Festival for the Arts Summer Conservatory, and the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band.  In addition, his music has been performed in workshops by ensembles such as the New York New Music Ensemble, Speculum Musicae, California E.A.R. Unit, the Enso String Quartet, and the Buffalo Philharmonic.  He has been a composition fellow at the Aspen Music Festival, Atlantic Center for the Arts, June in Buffalo, MusicX, and the Chamber Music Institute at UNL with the Chiara String Quartet.  Among his many honors, Jordan was the winner of the 2011 Pittsburgh Symphony Audience of the Future Competition, the 2010 League of Composers–ISCM Competition, and the 2007 Robert Avalon Young Composers Competition. Jordan’s work Iterations was selected for the 2011 American Composers Orchestra Underwood New Music Readings, one of the most coveted opportunities for emerging composers.

     At age 16, Jordan founded the Houston Young Musicians, a group that sought to broaden interest in classical music among new listeners as well as promote the works of American and other contemporary composers.  Jordan was also co-founder and Artistic Director of the Sonus Chamber Music Society, an organization that presented an interactive concert series in the Houston museum district.  Educational and community outreach, in schools, churches, and hospitals, was a central component of each of these programs.  He has continued his community engagement work in schools across Connecticut, with programs that have included musical collaborations with students in writing, drama, and filmmaking.

     Aside from music, Jordan is a 2nd degree black belt in traditional karate.  He was homeschooled his entire life before entering Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music where he studied with Karim Al-Zand, Anthony Brandt, Shih-Hui Chen, Arthur Gottschalk, and Pierre Jalbert.  Jordan also holds the M.M. and M.M.A. degrees from the Yale School of Music, where he studied with Martin Bresnick, Aaron Jay Kernis, Ezra Laderman, Ingram Marshall, and Christopher Theofanidis. He currently serves on the faculty of Richland College in Dallas, TX, where he teaches composition, music theory, cello, chamber music, and directs the string orchestra.