I.  PRINCIPAL ORCHESTRAL COMMISSIONS:

  • CHAMBER ORCHESTRA KREMLIN (Moscow, Russia)  -  October 2008
    New work for soprano and chamber orchestra (on text of Vladimir Nabokov) to premiere with Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, and soprano Julia Kogan, in Moscow, October 2008, with subsequent commercial CD recording at Moscowfilm studios
  • SAN FRANCISCO GAY & LESBIAN FREEDOM ORCHESTRA  -  March 2009  Commissioned work for the bay area ensemble.  In the orchestra's ongoing commitment to diversity and tolerance, the commissioning of a straight composer :) Premiere:  March 2009
  • THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF CONTRABASSOONISTS              Henry Skolnick (St. Louis), President
    CONSORTIUM COMMISSION for 2007 through 2009
    Consortium of over twenty (20) American and European orchestras.
    New 20 - 25 minute Concerto for Contrabassoon and Orchestra by Michael Schelle  -  Multiple premieres begin in October 2007 . . .
  • MANHATTAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA  -  2007 Midwestfunkenmusik:            
    Composer in Residence     for the MANHATTAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (2007/08)           
    I. Buckeye Zombies, II. Illillinoise, III. Threnody for the Victims of Indiana  . .  .
    scheduled premiere:  17 May 2007, Merkin Hall, New York City.  Commercial CD
    recordings of four works (including Struwwelpeter, Prayer, Godzilla), October, 2007,
    NYC.  Funded in part by generous grants from the New York State Council for the   Arts and the NEA.

  • Albuquerque, New Mexico - Composer in Residence 2004 - 2006 Five (5) new orchestral works composed in 2005 for various orchestras in New Mexico. Seven (7) extended residencies in New Mexico during the 2004 through 2006 seasons. EAR INFECTION,  CHRYSALIS,  EXTRACTION ON NO. 8,  VOX HUMANA and MONSTRO DE BRASIL   * All five works premiered in New Mexico, April 2006

  • Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra / Illinois Civic Orchestra - Crashout - co-commissioned by both orchestras w/additional funding from the Holcomb Research Foundation. *Premiere: Sept. 2004, Evansville Philharmonic, Alfred Savia, conductor

  • Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra - New work (20’) in commemoration of the 100th anniv. of the Wright Bros.: 2002/2003 season. WRIGHT FLIGHT (Concerto for Piano and Orchestra)  * premiere: Feb, 2003. Dayton Philharmonic; Neal Gittleman, conductor; Andrew Russo, piano

  • American Junior Achievement - National Council - Dreams Take Flight commissioned for the opening ceremonies of the National Junior Achievement Conference, Las Vegas, NV, June, 2002. The work served as the ‘film score’ (orchestral background music) for professionally produced JA video of photographic images . . .  The score was recorded May 2002, Butler Symphony Orchestra, Michael Schelle, conductor.

  • Knoxville Symphony Orchestra - commission for the 2000/2001 subscription season in Knoxville, TN. * Premiere: October, 2000 - Kirk Trevor, conductor

  • Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra - Samurai - commissioned for the 1998/1999 subscription series in Dayton, OH * Premiere: January, 1999 - Neal Gittleman, conductor

  • Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra - Spider Baby commissioned (Arts Council of Indianapolis) for the Indianapolis Calderfest 1996/97 season. * Premiere: 10/1996 - Kirk Trevor, conductor

  • Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra - MAYDAY!: Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra    *Premiere: April, 1996 - Edvard Tchivzhel, conductor

  • Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra - commission for the 100th Anniversary of the CSO, 1994/95 season.  * Premiere: March, 1995  -  Keith Lockhart, conductor

  • Indiana State Orchestra Consortium, Inc. - Indiana state Composer in Residence: SPIRITS commissioned for many performances during the 1993/94 season - by 15 consortium orchestras including the Indianapolis Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Terre Haute Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Northwest Indiana Symphony, New World Orchestra, Lafayette Symphony, Columbus Pro Musica, Muncie Symphony, South Bend Symphony, etc.

  • South Bend Symphony Orchestra - BLAST! commissioned for 60th anniversary season of the SBSO - 1992/93 * Premiere: September, 1992 - Tseung Yeh, conductor

  • Cleveland Chamber Symphony "- Rapscallion" commissioned for the 1990/91 season of the CCO. Additional funding from the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the National Endowment for the Arts. * Premiere: Nov, 1990 - Edwin London, conductor

  • Kansas City Symphony Orchestra - The Big Night - additional funding from the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition (Utah). * Premiere: February, 2 – 4, 1990 and KCSO March 1990 tour in Iowa, Wisconsin - William McGlaughlin, conductor

  • Greenwich Choral Society and Orchestra - After the Meridian: Times of Future Passed (chorus, soloists and orchestra), celebrating the 350th anniversary of the founding of Greenwich, Connecticut    * Premiere: December, 1990 - Richard Vogt, conductor

  • Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra. Additional funding from the Indiana Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts and the Holcomb Research Foundation. * Premiere: January, 1988.  Kidspeace(young voices and orchestra). Additional funding from Dow Chemical Co. - Commissioned for the youth concerts of the ISO and performed 14 times in April, May, 1987.  Oboe Concerto- commissioned for ISO principal oboist Malcolm Smith. *Premiere: January, 1984

  • Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra - Golden Bells (chorus and orchestra). Completion of an unfinished commissioned work by Norman Dinerstein (1936 – 1983) Dinerstein’s score was c. 25% complete, and with dozens of cryptic hand-written cryptic sketches. * Premiere: October, 1984 Cincinnati Symphony & May Festival Chorus, Michael Gielen, conductor

  • Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra - Swashbuckler! - Additional funding from the Indiana Arts Commission.  * Premiere: December, 1984 Raymond Harvey, conductor

  • Greater Kentucky Youth Orchestra (Lexington, KY) Pygmies II (1983) for orchestra and speaker/narrator. * Premiere: 1984 Nicholas Lacansky, conductor

  • Greater Indianapolis Youth Orchestra (Indianapolis, IN) -  Pygmies (1982) - for orchestra and electro-acoustic tape.  * Premiere: 1982 Jackson Wiley, conductor


II.  PRINCIPAL SYMPHONIC BAND COMMISSIONS: 

  • Lawrence Central High School (Indianapolis) - Breakout (2003) - LCHS 2003 marching band program using all Schelle music, including marching band arr. of sections fromSamurai, Detour to Nowhere (from Spirits), and Dreams Take Flight.   This 11:00 program placed 3rd in the Bands of America National Finals held at the RCA Dome, Indianapolis, 13 - 15 November 2003. . . over 100 of the best HS marching bands from across the United States (including bands from Texas, Florida, California, New York, Ohio, etc.) were involved in the weekend national competition.

  • Mid American Conference Band Directors Association - When Hell Freezes Over - Double Concerto for Bass Clarinet, Baritone Sax and Wind Ensemble. Commissioned by the MACBDA for multiple performances by 11 MAC conference university bands/wind ensembles - Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio - 1996/97 season. * Premiere: March, 1996 Central Michigan University Band CBDA conference, Green Bay, WI - Jack Williamson, conductor

  • Capital University (Columbus, OH) - Guttersnipe (for large wind ensemble). Commissioned for the NOW Music Festival, February, 1994

  • Indiana University - Contraband (for large wind ensemble). Kappa Kappa Psi funding. *Premiere: Bloomington, IN - February, 1991, Ray Cramer, conductor

  • Illinois Wesleyan University - Seven Steps from Hell (for large wind ensemble). Premiere: CBDNA National Festival, Madison, WI - March, 1985.  Steven Eggleston, conductor

  • Butler University - King Ubu (for large wind ensemble). Kappa Kappa Psi  Funding
  •  Welsh Arts Council - Double Quartet (for 8 winds) commissioned for the Vale of Glamorgan Music Festival, Cardiff, Wales U.K.  * Premiere: summer, 1980 - Koenig Ensemble of London.

 

III.  PRINCIPAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMMISSIONS 

  • Taft Music School, Crown Point, IN - Snapdragon (piano and 13 percussionists)  Premiere: March 2003

  • New York New Music Society - Buckeye Zombies ( 5 players) - commissioned for the Elliott Schwartz 60th Birthday Concert - ensemble performances in Merkin Hall, New York City  1/96 

  • American Pianists Association - Hammerstein - 8' etude commissioned for the 8th Biennial 1995 International APA Fellowship Program Competition: American Pianists Association / Beethoven Foundation. March 1995 - the 'required new work' to be performed by twelve 'finalist' candidates during the final rounds

  • Indianapolis Suzuki String Program - Palindrome - for youth chamber string orchestra.     * Premiere: Indianapolis, March, 1991

  • Hudson Research Instutite - "INIZIO" (violin and cello) - co-commissioned by HRI institute and friends of Meredith Eggleton, in her memory.  * Premiere: Oct., 1989. Larry Shapiro, violin, Arkady Orlovsky, cello.

  • Indiana State Music Teachers Association - Musica Magnetizzare (6 players) - commissioned (after a statewide 'composer search' competition) for the annual IMTA state conference  * Premiere: Oct, 1988 - Indiana University

  • Ronen Chamber Ensemble (Indianapolis - members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra)Funding from Cathedral Arts, Inc. Indianapolis Arts Council, Holcomb Research Foundation . . . 1. Godzilla(cl, bs cl, tenor sax, piano, bass, perc.) - commissioned for the 1996/97 season      2. Berlin Archetype(solo cello and 4 players) - commissioned for the 1990/91 season   3. "HOWL!" (solo clarinet and 4 players) - commissioned for the 1986/87

  • Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble - Play Us Chastity on Your Violin (solo violin and 13 players. Premiere: Pittsburgh 11/1984. Sherry Kloss, violin; David Stock, conductor

  • Michiana New Music Ensemble - Music for the Alabama Kid (8 players) - commissioned for the 1984/85 season. Funding provided by Indiana Arts Commission.

  • Salon Society, Inc. - Music for Two Pianos commissioned for the SSI 1982/83 Season. * Premiere: Spoleto USA (Charleston) 8/1983. Delphin & Romain, duo-pianos.

  • International Percussive Arts Society - "Cry Wolf!" (piano, cello, 5 perc) - commissioned for IPAS National Conference 11, 1981

  • Bratnober Foundation (Seattle) -Music for the Last Days of Strindberg (9 players) - $1,000 grant for composition, 1980


IV.  PRINCIPAL OPERA / CHORAL / VOCAL COMMISSIONS:

  • Immaculate Heart of Mary School (Indianapolis) - Aesop Rules! - Tell Me a Tale: Totally Aesop (1996) - Duration: 55’. An original musical for children (grades 1 - 5)  words and music by Michael Schelle. keyboards, tenor saxophone, percussion.  * Premiere performances: April, 1996 - Michael Schelle, music director and conductor

  • Indiana All-State Honors Choir - Pipuff! - an anti-pollution vocal excursion for lots of young voices . . .  Premiere: Indianapolis - January, 1992, and MENC National Conference April, 1992 - New Orleans, LA. Henry Leck, conductor

  • Indianapolis Museum of Art / National Endowment for the Arts - Struwwelpeter (25’ cycle for tenor and piano). * Premiere: Indianapolis - April, 1991. Steven Stolen, tenor

  • Greenwich Choral Society (and orchestra) - After the Meridian: Times of Future Passed (chorus, 4 soloists and orchestra) - commission celebrating the 350th anniversary of the founding of Greenwich, CT.   * Premiere: December, 1990. Richard Vogt, conductor

  • Indiana Opera Theatre / Butler Opera Theatre - The Great Soap Opera - two hour chamber opera.  * Premiere: 12 performances - June, September, 1989

  • Tales and Scales, Inc. - 1. Christmas Story - for five cctor/players. Daydream for 6 actor/platers  * Premieres: September, 1988, 1990 (Evansville, IN)

  • Second Presbyterian Church - Dei Angelus and Six Seasonal Anthems - SATB, organ. Commissioned for the 100th Anniversary of the Church: Indianapolis, IN. Fall, 1988. Robert Shepfer, organ.  *Published: 1995, Moon of Hope Press, Chicago, IL

  • Indianapolis Children's Choir - Oboe Darkness - for large youth choir, oboe and percussion - 1987  • premiere: Indiainapolis, Henry Leck, conductor

  • Villanova University (Philadelphia) - Composer in Residence for the Villanova University Graduate Theatre experimental productions of Medea and The Duchess of Malfi; and incidental music commissioned for VU modern repertory productions of Waiting for Godot (Beckett), The Balcony (Genet), and plays by Strindberg, Ionesco, Pirandello, and others (1969 - 1971).