Julie Ann Giroux (born December 12, 1961, in Fairhaven, Massachusetts) is an American pianist and composer of orchestral, choral, chamber, and numerous concert band works.
Julie Ann Giroux (born December 12, 1961, in Fairhaven, Massachusetts) is an American pianist and composer of orchestral, choral, chamber, and numerous concert band works.
Giroux graduated from Ouachita Parish High School, in Monroe, Louisiana, and earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During her college years, Giroux composed several concert band works which were published by Southern Music Company.[1] Immediately after graduation she traveled to Los Angeles, California, and began orchestrating under the employ of American composer Bill Conti for the Television Mini Series North and South. While in Los Angeles Giroux studied with several composers and orchestrators including Bill Conti, Jack Eskew and Greg McRitchie.
From 1985 to 1997, Julie Giroux orchestrated for television and films including April Fool's Day, Dynasty,[2] North and South,[3] North and South Book II,[4] The Karate Kid Part II, Broadcast News, Masters of the Universe,[5] White Men Can't Jump,[6] and Blaze.[7]
In 1997, Giroux began to compose heavily for concert bands and orchestras publishing exclusively with Musica Propria.[8] In 2004 Gia Publications, Inc.[9] published the book entitled "Composers on Composing for Band, Volume Two" which features a chapter written by Julie Giroux. Her insightful chapter gives a down to earth description which is often humorous of her personal methods and techniques for composing for bands.
In 2009, Giroux, an accomplished pianist, performed her latest work Cordoba[10] for Solo Piano and Concert Band in five U.S. cities and attended the premiere of Arcus IX, a work for Solo F Tuba and Concert Band[11] at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.
Her 2009 Film and documentary orchestrations and compositions include the ongoing project "Call for Green China"[12] which primarily funded by World Bank was recorded, performed and broadcast live in China in 2007. In 2009 the project was extended with new musical material, recorded and set to tour seven cities in China where the show will be performed live.
Giroux's Symphony No. V "Elements" by the Eastern Wind Symphony, featuring Conductor Todd Nichols premiered on June 9, 2018. Her trumpet concerto commissioned by Conductor Ray Cramer, The Musashino Academia Musicae and principal trumpet Christopher Martin (trumpeter) of the New York Philharmonic premiered by the commissioners at The Midwest Clinic in December 2018.
An advocate of gun control[13] and mental health awareness, Mrs. Giroux composed the work My Soul to Keep as a way to fight violence with music. In addition to its poignant lyrics and music, Giroux has made the work "Free, for everybody, forever". She has created several different settings, from acapella SATB choir to symphonic band with choir. Orchestral and vocal arrangements will also be added. The premiere took place in Orlando, Florida, the place of the second largest mass shooting in the U.S., with the Pride Bands Alliance Symphonic Band on October 13, 2019. The next large concert will be in Las Vegas, Nevada in October 2020, the site of the largest mass shooting in American history. The free music may be downloaded on her website. My Soul to Keep
Giroux is a Member of American Bandmasters Association (ABA) and an honorary brother of the Omicron chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi at West Virginia University. She was initiated into the fraternity on April 2, 2005, and in December, 2017 she was awarded the Distinguished Service to Music Medal.
Julie Giroux currently resides in Madison, Mississippi and continues to compose, orchestrate and arrange for television, movies, video games, wind bands and orchestras.
Giroux's concert works are published by Musica Propria and Southern Music Company. Most have been recorded by Mark Custom Recordings, [14] Fontec,[15] Klavier,[16] and Naxos.[17] Numerous United States Military Band recordings include her works. Those compact discs can be obtained by contacting the appropriate military band or purchased through various labels. All of the Concert Band/Wind Ensemble listed works are Published and most can be listened to at Giroux's official website.[18]
