Composer Dan Lawitts is searching for an accordionist/bayanist in the Syracuse/Auburn/Ithaca area who is capable of performing his “Bayan and Beyond” for free bass which Stas Venglevski recorded a few years ago. The performance date is flexible.

You can hear a small sample on: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/venglevski4

Dan is timpanist for the Auburn, NY, Chamber Orchestra. Native to Syracuse, New York, and returning to the area only recently, Mr. Lawitts started playing drums in his early teens. He graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a Music Education degree, and did graduate work at the University of Michigan, with a summer at the Berklee College of Music and summers at VanderCook College of Music thrown into the mix.

After five years as a music teacher, Dan left public school teaching (continuing occasional private instruction), returning in the last ten years or so, though he continued performing music in various venues throughout that time.

Employment opportunities led Dan to the Midwest, where his music experiences included performances in community musical productions, community and semi-professional orchestras and concert bands, a Chicago-based society wedding band, as well as various rock/popular music and jazz groups. Dan has performed solos with the Concord Chamber Orchestra and the Geneseo University Concert Band, and performed in a duet for the International Saxophone Congress.

Mr. Lawitts became composer-in-residence for the Concord Chamber Orchestra of Milwaukee (for which “Bayan And Beyond” was written) while living in the Milwaukee area, wrote small ensemble works for Milwaukee Symphony’s ACE program (one of which was music for Jerdine Nolan’s Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm—also performed at the 2013 Cazenovia Counterpoint Festival) and arranged works performed by the Milwaukee Symphony and the Milwaukee Ballet. Additionally, since returning to Syracuse, Dan has had one of his compositions performed by both the Onondaga Civic Symphony and the Cazenovia Community Concert Band’s Brass Ensemble, as well as a new arrangement for that band.

Why was “Bayan and Beyond” composed? The composer said, “How B&B came about was, Janet, the conductor at the time, asked me to consider writing a piece for an upcoming concert featuring Stas. A few days later she set up a meeting for Stas, Janet and myself. I played a midi version of the first half of the first movement for them. They were surprised to hear so much so soon. They liked what they heard, so I soon finished it up and rehearsals began on it right away.”

You can reach the composer Dan Lawitts at:
1danlaw1@gmail.com,