Portia Njoku, M.M.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
Master of Music, Composition and Tuba Performance December 2010
California State University Sacramento – Sacramento, CA
Thesis: In Dreams (see attached abstract)
Bachelor of Arts, Music Composition and Theory March 2007
University of California Davis – Davis, CA
CERTIFICATION
Online Teaching Institute, American River College September 2018
Online Teaching Certificate Program, Merritt College July 2013
Online Teaching, American River College May 2013
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Music Lecturer - Tuba, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 2021 - present
Music Adjunct Assistant Professor, Folsom Lake College, Rancho Cordova, CA 2019 - present
Music Adjunct Assistant Professor, American River College, Sacramento, CA June 2018 - present
Low Brass Coach, San Francisco Gay Lesbian Freedom Band, San Francisco, CA, September 2018
Instructional Assistant- Music, American River College, Sacramento, CA 2013 – 2020
Instructional Assistant- Music, Coyote Ridge Elementary School, Roseville, CA 2014 – 2020
Assistant Director of Bands, American River College, Sacramento, CA, January – May 2013
LRCCD Music Faculty Diversity Intern, American River College, Sacramento, CA, January - May 2013
Tuba Instructor, Davis/Sacramento, CA, 2004 – present
Beginning/Intermediate Piano Teacher, South Bay Area, CA, 2011 – 2012
Brass Coach, UC Davis Concert Band, Davis, CA, 2007 – 2010
Brass Coach, Community Women’s Orchestra, Oakland, CA, 2011
Graduate Student, CSU Sacramento Music, Sacramento, CA, 2008 – 2010
Brass Coach, California Aggie Marching Band-uh!: Davis, CA, 2007 – 2010
Tuba Demonstrator, UC Davis Music, Davis, CA, 2008
Music Theory Teacher/ Camp Counselor, Pacific Music Camp, Stockton, CA, 2008
COMPOSITIONS
2015 “Come Down to Joyland” Baritone Voice, Flute, Clarinet, and Tuba
2014 “Early Morning Blue” Mixed Women’s voices
2010 “In Dreams” Masters Thesis Chamber ensemble
2009 “Eastern Dances” String quartet
2009 “Fanfare for a King” Tuba quartet
2009 “Human Nature” Bass trombone with mixed percussion
2008 “Reparté” Mixed ensemble
2008 “Elegy for a King” Tuba quartet
2007 “Call of the Sea” Trumpet with piano
2006 “Suite of Dances” Brass quintet
2006 “Harmonic Motion” Mixed ensemble
2006 “Fanfare for Three Trumpets”
2005 “Short pieces for marimba”
2005 “Trio for Three Saxes”
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
Box Office Manager/Ticketing Coordinator, Sacramento, CA October 2013- Present
Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, Sacramento, CA April 2015- July 2015
Rancho Cordova Civic Light Orchestra, Rancho Cordova, CA 2015- Present
Camerata California, Sacramento, CA November 2013- Present
American River College Music Department, Sacramento, CA October 2013- May 2014
Workshop Coordinator, CALCAP Chamber Music Workshop, Sacramento, CA July 2012- Present
Research Assistant, UC Davis Plant Environmental Services, Davis, CA, 2010 – 2017
Seating Adjudicator, Sacramento Youth Symphony, Sacramento, CA, June 2016
Music Librarian, Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, Sacramento, CA July 2015- June 2016
Seating Audition Adjudicator, Davis Senior High School, Davis, CA, February 2010
Music Librarian Assistant, Sacramento Philharmonic, Sacramento, CA, March 2009
Greenhouse Assistant, UC Davis Plant Biology, Davis, CA, 2003 – 2007
Orchestra Librarian and Manager, UC Davis Music, Davis, CA, 2006 – 2007
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Board of Directors Member for VITA Academy 2018 - present
Traditional Jazz Society 2017 - 2018
Member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society 2010 - 2011
Member of California Lawyers for the Arts 2014 - present
Member of International Tuba Euphonium Association 2008 - 2010
Sonic Bloom Composer's Group 2007
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
The Double X Brass Band 2019 - present
Sacramento Preparatory Music Academy Beatles’ Shows 2018 - present
Solano Symphony 2016 – 2017
Grand Isle Fire Brigade Brass Band 2012 – present
American River College Orchestra 2011 – present
American River Brass Quintet 2008 – 2012
UC Davis Concert Band 2007 – 2017
Sierra Nevada Winds 2015 – 2016
Camellia Symphony Orchestra 2013 – 2015
UC Davis University Chorus 2012 – present
Benicia Ballet 2012 – 2015
Napa Ballet 2012 – 2015
Symphony of Northern California 2012 – 2015
Soloist with UC Davis Concert Band 2012
Folsom Lake Symphony Orchestra 2008 – 2011
Sacramento State Tuba Quartet 2008 – 2010
UC Davis Symphony Orchestra 2008 – present
Community Women’s Orchestra 2008 – 2010
Soloist with UC Davis Concert Band 2008
UC Davis Wind Ensemble 2007 – 2010
Compass Point Brass Quintet 2005 – 2006
SERVICE & OUTREACH
Sacramento Youth Symphony African American Composers’ Concert 2019
Sacramento Jazz Education Foundation 2018
Sierra Nevada Winds Ensemble 2013, 2015, 2016, & 2018
Carnegie Foundation Link Up Program Concerts 2013 - 2017
Grand Isle Fire Brigade Brass Band 2013
Clarksburg Community Band 2012
Oakland Public Conservatory 2012
American River College Symphony Orchestra 2011
Roseville Community Concert Band 2011
Sacramento Youth Band 2011
American River Brass Quintet Outreach Concerts 2010 – 2011
Community Women’s Orchestra 2010 – 2011
Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra’s Target Music Outreach Program 2010
CSUS Tuba Quartet Presents Down in the Valley: A Festival of Tuba and Euphonium 2008 – 2010
MASTERCLASSES
Velvet Brown, tuba 2008
The Meridian Arts Ensemble, composition 2009
Øystein Baadsvik, tuba 2010
Scott Macomber, tuba 2008
Atlantic Brass Quintet, tuba 2008
Kenneth Froelich, composition 2008
New York New Music Ensemble, composition 2005
AWARDS
American River College Classified Professional of the Year 2016
Nominee for Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society 2010
Mu Phi Epsilon Nominee 2008
American Composers Forum Golden Gate Brass Composition Reading Finalist 2007
Mentorship in Undergraduate Research in Agriculture, Letters, and Science Fellowship 2006
Department Citation in Music 2006
Dean's List 2005-2006
Tuba Scholarship 2005
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
COMPOSITION
2009 – 2010 Leo Eylar, California State University Sacramento, CA
2007 – 2009 Stephen Blumberg, California State University Sacramento, CA
2006 Andrew Frank, University of California Davis, CA
2005 – 2006 Pablo Ortiz, University of California Davis, CA
TUBA
2007 – 2010 Julian Dixon, Tuba at California State University Sacramento, CA
2004 – 2006 Scott Choate, Tuba at University of California Davis, CA
2003 – 2004 Bruce Chrisp, Tuba at University of California Davis, CA
PUBLICATION
Njoku, Portia O., and Steven D. Thompson. Basic Musicianship and Fundamentals: A New Approach. 1st ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2018. June 2018. he.kendallhunt.com.
Njoku, Portia Onyenachi. “In Dreams.” Master’s thesis, Sacramento State, 2010.
AUDIO RECORDING
Njoku, Portia, “Elegy for a King,” O quam mirabilis. Performed by Joanna Ross Hersey.
Joanna Ross Hersey 884502375763, 2010, compact disc.
VIDEO RECORDINGS
UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus, and Alumni Chorus, Verdi Requiem,
Jeffrey Thomas, Conductor, UCTV, University of California Regents, Live Performance Recorded June 12, 2004.
UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus, and Alumni Chorus, Mahler
Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”, D. Kern Holoman, Conductor, UCTV, University of California Regents, Live Performance Recorded March 13, 2005.
UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, Dvorak Slavonic Dance in B Major, Berg Violin
Concerto, Copland Appalachian Spring, D. Kern Holoman, Conductor, UCTV, University of California Regents, Live Performance Recorded March 12, 2006.
UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus, and Alumni Chorus, Orff Carmina
Burana, Jeffrey Thomas, Conductor, UCTV, University of California Regents, Live Performance Recorded June 4, 2006.
OTHER PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
MUSICAL THEATRE EXPERIENCE
2011 Iolanthe Tuba
2010 Singing in the Rain Tuba
2007 Man of La Mancha Bass Trombone
2006 Cabaret Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and Baritone Sax
2004 Into the Woods Clarinet and Bass Clarinet
PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES
UC Davis Alumni Chorus (Alto) 2014 & 2015
UC Berkeley Summer Symphony 2008 – 2009
UC Davis Summer Symphony 2006 – 2008
UC Davis University Chorus (Alto) 2003 – 2004
SOLO AND CHAMBER
Heavy Metal Tuba Euphonium Ensemble (American River College) 2013
Roseville Brass Quintet 2011 – 2012
Graduate Tuba Recital 2008 and 2010
Graduate Composition Lecture Recital 2010
Sacramento Symphonic Tuba Euphonium Choir 2009 – 2010
Sacramento State New Music Ensemble 2008
Undergraduate Composition Recital 2006
Undergraduate Tuba Recital 2006
Stravinsky Octet (Bass Trombone) 2005
UC Davis Trombone Choir 2003 – 2004
REFEREES
Available upon request.
Abstract
of
IN DREAMS
by Portia Onyenachi Njoku
The intention of this work is to portray the composer’s recurring childhood dreams by painting a musical picture of the moods during the dream sequences. In Dreams is a 10-piece chamber ensemble, which uses a cyclic formal structure. It is scored for flute/piccolo, clarinet in B-flat/bass clarinet, trumpet in B-flat, trombone, drum set with whistle, piano, two violins, viola, and cello, and lasts approximately a little over 14 minutes. The piece was written with the intention of using music to connect disjunct scenes from the composer’s recurring dreams smoothly so that the two types of dream scenes can weave in and out of each other like streams of consciousness. The two types of dreams are representative of the composer’s first encounter with a clown at a fair and her family living in four different homes. The key component of this work is the use of thematic transformation. The contrasting thematic and stylistic material for the circus clown music and the four home locations are the basis for this cyclic progression and undergo changes each time these themes reappear. This thematic transformation facilitates the audience’s ability to become familiar with the themes and types of music, and thus, allowing the audience to follow along on the musical journey. Jason Pano directed the chamber ensemble, which premiered In Dreams on November 23, 2010.