biography
Grant Jahn received his Bachelor of Music in Music Composition at Arizona State University and has studied under the direction of Jody Rockmaker, Kotoka Suzuki, Rodney Rogers, and Doug Harbin. Notable performers of his work include the Arizona State University Wind Ensemble, the Arizona Repertory Singers, the Herberger String Quartet, clarinetists Dr. Caitlin Poupard and Dr. Celeste Case-Ruchala, and the Mosaic saxophone quartet, who premiered "Traffic" at the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 2 Conference in 2015. Jahn's work, "Impetus" for soprano saxophone and piano was also selected to be performed at the NASA conference of 2016 by saxophonist Samuel A. Detweiler. In addition, Jahn's works have been the subject of several Doctoral dissertations ranging from clarinet performance, to interactive electro-acoustic performance, such as the work, "petrichor" for the Moreau VanTuinen Duo: a work for euphonium, percussion, fixed and interactive electronics.
Under the direction of clarinetists Robert Spring and Joshua Gardner at Arizona State, Jahn has developed a strong interest in utilizing extended techniques on the clarinet (some of which include multiphonics, quartertones, and overtones) in his compositions, expanding on ideas presented in works by composers such as William O. Smith and Eric Mandat. Jahn's works for clarinet aim to bring these extended techniques to clarinetists and audiences alike in practical and motivic ways, giving contemporary clarinet music the opportunity of accessibility to performers and listeners.
Jahn's compositional output includes many works for clarinet as well as works for saxophone quartet, string quartet, various other chamber ensembles, SATB choir, live and fixed electronics, and film music. Jahn composed the score to the full-length feature film, “Lucky U Ranch” (2015) directed by Steve Anderson, which was chosen as an official selection at the Phoenix Film Festival in 2016. Jahn currently resides in New Jersey.