Todd Syswerda
Professor; Theory, Composition and Songwriting
Dr. Todd Syswerda received his DA in Music Composition from the University of Northern Colorado and joined the Indiana Wesleyan University Division of Music in 2000, as the first full-time faculty to head the then brand new Theory and Composition degree. Recently, Dr. Syswerda helped launch a new major in Songwriting through collaborating with ASCAP Songwriter of the Century, Gloria Gaither. In his instruction, Dr. Syswerda offers a creative foundation upon which songwriters and composition students can develop their craft, a foundation that encourages them to bring their “seeds” of ideas first, whether those seeds are musical or lyrical, and then be taught how to expand those thoughts.
As a musical creator, Dr. Syswerda has composed works for diverse genres ranging from his Symphony #1 to For We Wrestle Not (for men’s chorus, strings and percussion) to the song cycle My Song (for soprano and piano). He has accepted commissions from the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra (Symphonic Poem #3 – Art and Industry), the Indiana Music Educators Association (Behind the Curtain – for mixed choir and piano; and All Creation Praise – for piano trio), Indiana Wesleyan University, and numerous high schools. Some of his choral work can be found through Alliance Music, in Houston, TX and, as an arranger, he is regularly published by the Praise Gathering Music Group. Dr. Syswerda also composes music for film and is currently active in composing within the world of musical theatre, for which he has created a full musical, WHERE FORTUNES LIE, and composed music for four other musical shorts. He is currently working on his next full-scale show.
Dr. Syswerda has been married to the love of his life, Dara, since 1991. They have an incredible son, Thane, and a phenomenal daughter, Laynie. To learn more about Dr. Syswerda and his music, visit his website at www.toddsyswerda.com.
Educational Background:
- B.M., 1991, Taylor University
- M.M., 1994, University of Northern Colorado
- D.A., 2002, University of Northern Colorado