Meet Till Meyn | Classical Composer & Professor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Till Meyn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Till, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have always been passionate about music. As a child, I would sit on my bedroom floor and listen to classical records; I was fascinated by the power of an orchestra to create such drama. Through high school and then in college and beyond, I felt a true sense of community when singing in choirs; choral singing is what developed my ear to the point where I could take in simultaneous multiple lines of music (counterpoint) and understand my role in it all. In college, I first thought that it was prudent to major in something practical–so I chose political science. But after my first year, I happily switched to music, and my passion began for writing music as a composer. As a professional composer and music professor, I am fortunate to be able to do what I love every day, whether that involves sitting at a desk and dreaming up new compositions, or sharing ideas with a roomful of like-minded young musicians. I feel incredibly fortunate to be always creating, performing, and teaching music.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Becoming a composer takes years of study and practice, as well as the ability to hear and appreciate music in all its complexity. What I find most challenging about the business of being a creative artist is promoting the music and finding a niche in this crowded marketplace, such that performers will want to perform something entirely new, and that people will want to take the time to listen to it. Writing music is the fun part, and although it certainly comes with a lot of creative challenges, the process is invigorating and the rewards of performance motivate me to begin the next project right away. What I would want music lovers to find in my compositions is an appreciation for something different than the usual–something that takes you on a journey through diverse emotions–and leaves you changed, and hopefully wanting more. One of the high points for me was in September of 2019, when my newly commissioned piece ‘Remix’ was performed by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra to open their 2019/2020 season. They performed the work magnificently three times that weekend; its goal was to honor Miguel Harth-Bedoya in his twentieth (and final) season with the FWSO. I am now turning back to choral composing–the art form I feel most connected to–and I would be so happy to collaborate on commissions with Fort Worth choirs!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love hosting visitors to Fort Worth. Often, the folks who come to visit are composers or musicians who know very little about Texas, and are unfamiliar with the diverse offerings of culture, entertainment, and food that we enjoy here in Fort Worth. Some of the things I like to suggest to visitors are as follows: 1) Tour the amazing museums we have here in Fort Worth. The Kimbell usually has an exciting traveling exhibition, as well as its stunning permanent collection; the Amon Carter has artwork of varied styles, including that of the Wild West; the Modern Museum is always a stimulating and fun experience. 2) Walk through the Botanic Gardens and you’ll enjoy a tapestry of diverse plants; plan on ending up at what we call the “Jungle Garden” (the Conservatory), where you can meander through the tropics, even in winter. 3) Attend a concert at Bass Performance Hall, or come down University Drive and find a concert at the new Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU; for a fun hole-in-the-wall experience, see if there’s something happening later at night in the Scat Jazz Lounge downtown. 4) For good eating, there are too many great experiences to mention all of them, but I enjoy taking visitors to Joe T. Garcias and sitting outside in the gardens; Nonna Tata on Magnolia is a unique and personal Italian dining experience, and after you eat, you can wander down Magnolia and look in the shops (and get an ice cream at Melt!). And if you want to work off that big meal, you can enjoy a run along the Trinity River, where there are miles of trails.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support of my wife Laura. She has always encouraged me to take the time I need to be creative and to be the best teacher and mentor I can be. I am also incredibly lucky to have parents who nurtured my love of music early on by taking me to concerts, playing music at home, and supporting my choice to study music. There have been so many mentors along the way–choir directors, composition teachers, colleagues–and so a huge shoutout goes to all of those folks as well!

Website: tillmeyn.com

Instagram: composertillmeyn

Youtube: Composer Till MacIvor Meyn

Image Credits
Olaf Growald