Biography
Composer and musician Steve Kornicki has been involved in many aspects of the music business since 1985. He has composed concert pieces for orchestra and chamber ensembles, electronic music and production music tracks for film, television, radio and multimedia. His concert pieces have been performed throughout the United States and several of these pieces have been published by Media Press Inc. He has arranged music for instruments and voices, and his original music has been produced on numerous CDs since 1991. Click here for press quotes and reviews.
His orchestral piece, "Morning Star Rising", was recorded by the Kiev Philharmonic and released in 2005 on the ERM Media CD label (see full list of credits). In 2006, his chamber ensemble work "72 Tones (Horizontal Color Forms #12)" was performed at an historic concert by the New York Miniaturist Ensemble at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City along with a premiere by Karlheinz Stockhausen. A piece for marimba and tape, "Tempo Distortion #4" has proven to be a popular work among percussionists with several video performances viewable on YouTube.
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Photos by Jerry Cook |
Notable production music credits include placements in CSI Miami, The Simple Life with Paris Hilton, CBS Sunday Morning News, PGA Golf, MLB, Barry Levinson's 2008 film, "What Just Happened" with Robert DeNiro, and various programming on Animal Planet, History, Discovery, E!, VH1, NBC, Lifetime, and more.
He owns and operates his own music publishing company, Fragmented View Music (BMI) and a recording and video editing studio. He has recorded, mixed and produced professionally since 1991 and has taught more than 100 private music students.
As a performer, Steve has worked extensively at festivals, corporate events and private parties in Pennsylvania and California. Currently he plays bass guitar with the Don Soledad Group, a contemporary Latin-flamenco ensemble.
Steve attended Philadelphia's Settlement Music School from 1984-1989 during which time he studied composition/theory with Jeffrey Mumford and guitar performance with William Peters. He served as administrative assistant and technical/musical consultant at the Kardon Institute for Arts Therapy from 1989-1995. He was also librarian at Settlement and curator of the Sol Schoenbach library of bassoon music from 1988-1990.
Complete list of Steve's credits . . .
"The eight compositions appearing on [Steve Kornicki's CD] Orchestral,
Conceptual and Ensemble Music provide insight into the musical
range of composer Steve Kornicki. The program moves from the live philharmonic
textures of the opening piece to the rapid careening of mallet instruments
on the closer. In between, it would seem Kornicki is occupied with writing
the lost chapter of ambient music - the one pertaining to symphonic music.
His work here is lucid, pensive and subtly charged. These works superbly
express the complexional range of orchestral timbres through the exploration
of harmonic opposition and variances in dissonance and resolution. The
slow paced development, necessary in the overall musical drama, forges
deep structures. The style is understated and concerned with quietude.
Simple form and subtle motion provide a quiet elegance, while a palette
of timeless symphonic timbres adds fresh insight into what this classic
medium can aspire to. Kornicki's concepts exist in an eternal future outside
of our time, a time where the secrets of the universe are made audible."
- Chuck van Zyl, Star's End Ambient Radio, November 30, 2005
"This 15-minute tone poem for orchestra [Morning Star
Rising by Steve Kornicki] incorporates echoes of Hovhaness
and Holst, along with some slight minimalist elements, to create a very
captivating sound. The piece strikes me as quite unique and powerful."
- Rob Grano, Musician & Writer, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
"[Steve Kornicki's Morning Star Rising]
The "program" of the morning star rising extends to touches
of splendor, but above all there is a transparency here, as if at this
time of day above all there is transparency between our world and another;
a transparency that diminishes with, I suppose, the brightening of our
day, but not with a suggestion of tragedy but rather of hope." -
Dale J. Nelson, Associate Professor of Liberal Arts, Mayville State
University, North Dakota
"Rising Star: Composer taking center stage" by Andrea L. Zrimsek,
North Journal cover story, December 9, 2004 [read
full article]
"Driving, syncopated rhythms with an impressive electronic accompaniment
make Steve Kornicki's new work, Xylo Motion,
a great recital piece for the college student or professional. A two-mallet
tour de force, Xylo Motion will challenge the player but not the audience,
who will enjoy the sounds and energy that it creates." -Tom Siwe,
Former Editor - Media Press Inc. [order
score]
"Written for xylophone soloist with pre-recorded electronic sound
accompaniment, Steve Kornicki's Xylo Motion
is a "tour-de-force" for the advanced performer. The electronic
sound accompaniment melds so comfortably with the xylophone solo that
the listener could possibly forget that there is an accompaniment. The
work is approximately eight minutes in length and technically challenges
the two-mallet performer with highly arpeggiated patterns, double stops
at various intervallic distances, and syncopated rhythmic patterns. It
is indeed refreshing to see a challenging, two-mallet piece added to the
repertoire." -Lisa Rogers, Percussive Notes, December 2004
"Steve Kornicki's Synchronous Momentum
is a two-mallet vibraphone work accompanied by electronic sounds that
are on a compact disc that is included with the score. The work is very
much a fusion of pop music idioms and dance grooves. This five-minute
work presents basic challenges for the vibist in terms of melodic patterns
full of leaps and challenging rhythmic patterns that must be synchronized
with the electronic sounds. Synchronous Momentum will challenge the advanced
performer and add momentum to any performance." - Lisa Rogers, Percussive
Notes, June 2003 [order
score]
"Composer Steve Kornicki's multihued and eloquent writing fuels the dramatic orchestral pieces found on Orchestral Soundscapes Vol 5, from vivid tracks accented lightly by vocal chorus, synths and electronic percussion to solo string pieces, this diverse set moves deftly through moods and feelings. "Final Flight" features a warm and sparkling piano line that floats among a winding ribbon of ringing strings. On "Through The Stars" fluttering, echoing flutes and rising, filtered synths weave a majestic melody, floating like the birth of the night sky. Orchestral Soundscapes Vol 5 will fill your scenes with passion, energy and light - Freeplay Music, 2009
"Steve Kornicki imbues his orchestral pieces with a sophisticated emotional grace. Beautiful arrangements and a lovely orchestra really make this set of tracks shine. The driving bells, piano and timpani of "Majestic Brilliance" weave a lovely mesmerizing rhythmic melody that has avant-garde flavors and a great filmic feel. A chorus of discordant flutes offsets the defiant, graceful swell of horns on “Resonant Solitude” with a natural balance that is almost terrifying. The wise majesty of "Flowing Grandeur" breathes with a virtuous dignity and grace. Orchestral Soundscapes Vol 1 is a sweeping, cinematic new volume who's wondrous melodies and fantastic compositions will enrich your soul - Freeplay Music, 2007
"Your work [Video Triptych DVD] transported me to the world of fractals (which have been always part
of my own work). Each video is mesmerizing!" - Nohra Corredor, Artist
"Just like the prismatic cover art, the latest CD from LA-based Steve
Kornicki - Forever Journey - is filled with a
colorful spectrum of instrumental guitar sounds. A mixture of live performance
guitar, smooth jazz and Euro-flavored new age topped off with the strong
rhythmic beat of world music, the 72-minute Forever Journey can be described
as Pat Metheny jamming with Weather Report. A great sounding
album for instrumental guitar aficionados, the album features stellar
performances by Kornicki on electric and acoustic nylon guitars, fretless
bass, baritone guitar, flute and keyboards and fine percussion work from
Steve's brother Kevin
Kornicki." - Robert Silverstein - 20th Century Guitar June 2003
"Forever Journey, a fantastic album of guitar
music from a guy who does it all, Steve Kornicki." - Radio Nonbiri,
(Japan) 2003
"Steve's CD, Forever Journey, is bright,
upbeat music showcasing Steve Kornicki's guitar wizardry" - GlenArts
(online arts newsletter for the San Fernando Valley, CA)
"A nice knack of makin' dat guitar talk the talk! Nice CD!"
(Forever Journey) -Al Santos, WJZW Smooth Jazz
- 105.9 Washington D.C.
"Kornicki's astonishing ability to generate a sound that is simultaneously
recognizable and all-new is a pleasant surprise" -Tail Spin Magazine
"Kornicki's CD (Time Withstanding) evokes
spiraling emotional peaks and valleys" -Pittsburgh Post Gazette
"This CD (Deep Time) manages to capture
the high energy of the Kornicki Brother's live performances…a must
for fans and a good primer for the uninitiated" -WYEP-FM (Pittsburgh,
PA)
"Using an array of guitars, keyboards and
percussion instruments, the Kornicki Brothers craft themselves some intricately
layered soundscapes" -Philadelphia City Paper