Eileen Padgett
Composition, Music Appreciation & Theory Department Chair; IN-PERSON & ONLINE LESSONS
Eileen V. Padgett is a Vancouver-based composer and pianist. She enjoys cultivating a love of music with her students, especially with young learners and beginners. She fosters an atmosphere of creativity and imagination through musical improvisation and extramusical imagery.
Eileen received her Bachelor of Music in piano and composition from Queen’s University in 2009. It was there that she began her formal studies in music composition with Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich. Subsequently she pursued a Masters degree in music composition under the guidance of Dr. Stephen Chatman at the University of British Columbia, graduating in 2011. She then elected to pursue a doctoral degree at the same institution, graduating in November of 2017.
Eileen is the recipient of numerous musical and scholarly awards including: The Graham George Memorial Scholarship in Composition, First Place in the New York Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Composition Competition (Division IV), Winner of the UBC Choral Competition, The UBC Faculty of Arts Graduate Award, and The Queen’s University Medal in Music.
Eileen has had her music read and performed by several professional ensembles including the Prince George Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the UBC Symphony Orchestra, the UBC Symphonic Winds, the UBC Chamber Strings, the UBC Singers, the Phoenix Chamber Choir, Pacifica Singers, Sea to Sky Winds, and the New York Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, and Vetta Chamber Music for whom she served as composer-in-residence during the 2016-2017 season.
Eileen is strongly invested in making music at the community level. She has served on the board of Vancouver Pro Musica, has worked as a theory teacher and collaborative pianist with the Vancouver Youth Choir, and has offered her time as the music director and pianist in community musicals. In her previous role as Music Director at West Point Grey United Church she began several community-oriented initiatives including an ESL Choir.
Photo credit Nadya Kwandibens