Meet Local Composer Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke!

Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke is a neo-classical/neo-impressionist composer whose specialty is musical story-telling. She has taught music in some form since she was fifteen years old. Her varied oeuvre includes art songs, choral, chamber, orchestral works, and a ballet—which have been performed locally, coast-to-coast across the United States, and in Europe. In 2019, Highlands Ballet Company and The Paramount Chamber Players produced her 70-minute ballet, Magic Butterfly. Her 2019 award-winning setting of Olivia Fox's poem, "Ignition," celebrating the 1969 Apollo moon landing anniversary, will be part of Huntsville Space Center’s permanent exhibit. The JCSO is excited to be performing "Procession of the Animals" from Deluge! at our February 15 concert, Hope and Honor. Learn more about Evelyn below!

First, a huge thank you to Dr. Rob Seebacher for rescuing this piece from my [Pursley-Kopitzke] attic. And also thank you, Dr. Kellie Brown for the Milligan orchestra’s reading the strings-only version – which was extremely helpful.

Where are you from and how long have you lived in the Tri-Cities area?

The short answer to ‘Where are you from?’ is always, “I live in East Tennessee,” or “I’m a reformed nomad who landed here. Whew.”  The long answer is that although I’m a lifelong US citizen, I’m sort-of a person without a birthplace. The country where I was born, Tanganyika, no longer exists. It’s now Tanzania and is no longer a British Colony. I’ve lived in the Tri-Cities since 1984. My great grandparents aren’t buried here, but this is as close to home as I have. Thank you, East Tennessee.

Do you play any instruments?

Yes, but I don’t perform. My vocal, piano, violin, and cello skills don’t reach my own performance standards. And I’d much rather write than practice – which is currently painful (old hand injuries and residual arthritis). Sigh.

What do you do when you are not composing? 

I consider myself a professional storyteller, whether my medium is music or words. Output includes music, lyrics and other poetry, short stories, longer fiction. I have many interests: learning about the natural world, plants, astronomy (armchair type), I can usually figure out a way to create things. I have done oil painting (recognizable portraits), clay sculpture, sewing and other needlework. Reading. Finding a way to support my fellow LLCs (Local Living Composers).

Favorite animal (because your composition mentions animals)?

Cats and other people’s dogs and horses. All animals – from a safe distance. When I was a child in Tanzania and Zambia, we had baby antelope pets: a kudu and a duiker along with a [mean] monkey, cats, and a dog.

When did you start composing and how did you get started composing?

I have always had mental music, but it took until I started undergrad as a voice major and had a proper music theory class to realize that I could compose. I finally understood that composition was not direct dictation by a miraculous angel that had only ever had visited dead European men. By the second semester of my freshman year, I had switched my major to Theory Comp and never looked back.

How long did it take you to compose this piece and what inspired this work?

I’m not sure how long this piece took, since it’s a movement out of a much larger work. I began my oratorio, Deluge! in 1993 or so, but didn’t get serious about finishing it until after I rolled our sport-ute at interstate speed (1994) and realized how short life can be. (Yes, that was my first serious hand injury; see playing instruments answer above.) A sense of urgency can focus your attention quite dramatically. At the time a lot of Y2K Armageddon-ish end-of-the-world discussions were floating around. And I thought, “Well, if we’re going for the end of the world, I can tell that story a different way. Why not the biblical flood in music?” I used direct Bible quotes for much of the lyrics, but realized how sad this was. I needed something that wasn’t global destruction and genocide. Yikes! Enter animals parading two-by-two toward the ark. The movement was intended to please my children. The originally planned premiere (2000) of the  75-minute oratorio was cancelled due to the director’s serious illness.

What inspired the title of this composition?

The Bible story I was brought up with said that the animals miraculously assembled themselves and headed toward Noah’s ark. And many of the children’s books’ illustrations looked like a parade of animals.  

What is your favorite part of the composition process?

Writing the initial themes: the earworms on repeat and music that I hear in my literal dreams. Second favorite part: listening to Humans perform what I wrote.

How many pieces have you composed?

My most recent comprehensive count was in 2017. There were well over 400 on that list. I have written a lot more since then, so I’m not sure.  

What is the most challenging part of composing?

Biggest challenges: 1. Making sure that my “fill-in-the-gap” brain isn’t mentally supplying things that aren’t there. 2. Smooth and logical transitions between musical themes. 3. Promotion.

What words of wisdom would you give aspiring composers?

Listen to everything. You won’t hear your own internal music if you don’t have quiet time. Learn everything you can about how music functions. Analysis can paralyze you; it’s best used for making sure the music works, not legitimizing yourself and your music. Your friends are the people who will give your music a chance. Make sure you do make friends, both musicians and “normal” people. Return the favor.

The JCSO will present Hope and Honor on Saturday, February 15, at 7:30pm at the ETSU Martin Center. You can purchase tickets through the link below, or at the door. ETSU and Milligan University students receive a complimentary ticket with a valid Student ID.

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