Jeff Mangels - Composer

Jeff Mangels (b. 1969), composer, holds the D.M.A. in composition from the University of South Carolina, the M.M. in composition from James Madison University, and the B.A. in music theory and composition from Virginia Tech. His composition teachers include Gordon (Dick) Goodwin, John Hilliard, Glenn Smith, and Kent Holliday.

A native of Herndon, Virginia, he began piano study at an early age and started composing in his teen years. He has been recognized for distinction in composition by noted composers including Lowell Liebermann and Chen Yi, among others. His works have been performed in the United States and Europe by a variety of ensembles including the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, The Covington String Quartet, The Chamber Ensemble of the Conductor's Institute of South Carolina, The Montgomery College Symphony, The James Madison University Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, and various soloists, small chamber groups, and other ensembles. In addition, he has had reading sessions with The New River Valley Symphony and the James Madison University Orchestra. His compositions include works for orchestra, choir, voice, percussion, chamber groups, electronics, and solo piano.

Active also in research, Dr. Mangels has done work on improving the notation of harmonics on bowed stringed instruments. His interests include composition, composition pedagogy, theory pedagogy, orchestration techniques, music notation, music theory and analysis, pure electronics and sampling, MIDI, and composing for film. Currently, he is Associate Professor of Music at Montgomery College and resides in Herndon, Virginia.