Allow me
to introduce myself. My name is Theodore (Ted) Jander. I have been composing and arranging for a little over twenty-four years. Though, singing was my first passion. Growing up in a singing family helped build my confidence to take those first big steps onto a stage at the age of ten. I have not stopped performing since. From participating in grade school choirs, church choirs, collegiate ensembles, to honing my musical chops as Artistic Director and member of the Greenleaf Singers (a St. Louis-based Early Music Vocal Ensemble), and as Worship Ministry Coordinator at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Hazelwood, Missouri, sacred choral music emerged as my passion, more specifically, composing music for the church.
In order to nurture this enthusiasm for writing music, I began my compositional studies. While completing my Bachelors in Music Education at the University of MO-St. Louis and my Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in Choral Studies and Composition at Webster University, I was blessed to receive compositional guidance from several fantastic and gifted individuals: Dr. Claude Baker, Professor Kim Portnoy and Professor Robert Chamberlin. Because of my studies at Webster University, my dream of studying and performing in Europe came true. I was selected to study counterpoint and composition at the European American Musical Alliance program in Paris, France, during the month of July 2005. I studied counterpoint with Dr. Philip Lasser, and composition with Michel Merlet and Narcis Bonet.
Through teaching various music classes and ensembles at the grade school, middle school, and high school levels; serving as Artistic Director of the Greenleaf Singers; as founder of Journey Begun Media; producing two podcasts, Journey Begun in Scripture and Coffee Talk with King Francois I; leading the cast of the St. Louis Renaissance Festival as Cast Director; having fulfilled a variety of administrative, program development, and music related responsibilities through various positions at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd; and working as a Tech Troubleshooter with Alorica, I have experienced multiple opportunities to cultivate my writing, organizing, communicating, composing, digital media producing, technical and computer proficiencies, and leadership skills.
Though the crafting of musical excursions has occupied my creative outlet over the past twenty-five years, penning poetry, ponderings, and puns has been lifelong. That said, the past few years brought a resurgence in my output of words to paper as well as on digital media with the mission of bringing hope to the world.
I also have a great interest in music history, specifically the Middle Ages through the Renaissance. Links are provided to many of my favorite Medieval, Renaissance and music sites. Be sure to check out the links page. You can also find me on the following websites: American Composers Forum, NewMusic Online Library, Society of Composers, Inc., and Journey Begun Music.
In my spare time, you will see me either running or cycling, mostly running though, reading, video gaming, portraying Francois I, King of France as part of the St. Louis Renaissance Festival, and spending as much time as I can with my two children.
Food for Thought: “The obvious to find is the most difficult to obtain!” © 1990