Mark Dal Porto


Dr. Mark Dal Porto has had his works performed by such ensembles as the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Kiev Chamber Choir, Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kühn Choir of Prague, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Texas Christian University Symphony Orchestra, Kronos String Quartet, Boston Metro Opera, Vanguard Voices and Brass (Dearborn, Michigan), Wichita Falls (Texas) Chamber Orchestra, and many University Wind Ensembles. His recorded works available on CD include Exotic Animals Suite for Woodwind Quintet, Galactica for Symphonic Wind Ensemble, I Seek Rest for My Lonely Heart for A Cappella Choir, Song of Eternity for Orchestra, Song of the Night for Oboe, Voice and Piano, Spring, the Sweet Spring for Choir and Piano, and When Your Song Rang Out to Me for Choir and Piano. His many commissions include those from the Orchestra of Southern Utah, the College Orchestra Directors Association, the Santa Fe Community Orchestra, and the Pemigewasset Choral Society of New Hampshire. Dal Porto serves on the faculty of Eastern New Mexico University as professor of music and coordinator of Music Theory and Composition and can be seen as a frequent guest composer and conductor. A former student of Donald Grantham, Dal Porto received degrees from California State University, Sacramento (B.A. Piano Performance, M.A. Theory/Composition), and the University of Texas at Austin (D.M.A. Composition). His past teaching assignments have included serving on the faculty at Texas State University, Northern State University, and Texas Woman’s University. In 2015, Dal Porto was awarded certificates of excellence in band, choral, and orchestral composition from The American Prize organization. He was also awarded first prize (from over 140 entries from around the world) in the CODA (College Orchestra Director’s Association) 2013 International Composition Contest for his orchestral work Song of Eternity.

Compositions

Song of Eternity
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Song of Eternity was inspired by an ancient Chinese poem that describes how Nature continually lives, blooms, dies, and then renews itself while we as humans however are not eternal. This neo-romantic work is meant to evoke feelings of nostalgia and reflection on the ephemeral nature of our lives. The poem can be found in Hans Bethge’s anthology titled The Chinese Flute which contains a collection and adaptation of ancient Chinese poetry. The poem is as follows: Oh, man, how long wilt thou live? Not one hundred years may’st thou enjoy thyself. Where am I going? I shall wander in the mountains. I am seeking rest for my lonely heart. I shall wander toward my home, my dwelling place! I shall never roam afar. Everywhere the lovely earth blossoms forth In spring and grows green Anew! Everywhere, forever, Horizons are blue and bright! Forever and ever . . .