About Me
Isaac Duquette is an up-and-coming freelance composer and horn player from Reading, Pennsylvania. Isaac studied at West Chester University of Pennsylvania from 2016 until 2020 pursuing degrees in french horn performance under Dr. Elizabeth Pfaffle and Prof. Karen Schubert, and studying music composition under Dr. Robert Maggio, Dr. Van Stiefel, Dr. Adam Silverman, Dr. Jacob Cooper, and Dr. Sabrina Clarke. During his time at West Chester University, Isaac also studied conducting under Prof. Joseph Caminiti where he conducted the West Chester University Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Isaac has performed with the Southern New Jersey Philharmonic for their performance of Mahler 2 and subs for regional groups and theaters such as the Genesius Theater and Orchestra Concordia. Isaac is currently studying as a Graduate Assistant at Temple University under Ernesto Tovar, 4th horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Isaac’s influences include composers like Adam Schoenberg, Henryk Górecki, and Theodor Adorno. His main inspirations are the psychological processes and Lacanian Theory (explaining experiences that cannot be explained in traditional discourse).
Isaac has received commissions from the West Chester University Concert Band, Ernesto Tovar, the Reading Choral Society, and several other local musicians/ groups. He is currently working on a commission for the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra.
He had one world premiere in the fall of 2021 with the Reading Choral Society who premiered his work Dispirited Walls. He has a premiere in the spring of 2022 with the West Chester University Concert Band who will be premiering his work A Journey Through Life. He will also be premiering his work Ethereal Spaces for horn quintet and fixed media in March of 2022.
Isaac was selected as a fellow and festival assistant for the 2022 and 2023 Alba International Music Festival Composition Programs where he premiered his saxophone quartet Momencarderium in 2022 and Death of the Arts? in 2023. Isaac was also announced as a runner-up for the prestigious 2022 National Bandmaster’s Association’s Mentorship project run by Mark Camphouse in partnership with the United States Air Force Band for his work Melancholia. The work has also won awards at several other festivals where it has been selected for readings.
Isaac remains an active performer in the Philadelphia Region. Isaac frequently performs with Berks Sinfonietta in Reading, PA, and has also performed with the Reading Pops, Mid Atlantic Symphony (Baltimore, MD) and Bay Atlantic Symphony (NJ). Isaac also performs with musicals for schools and theater companies in the area and is on the sub. list for several orchestras in the area.
For commission requests, please email commissions@duquettemusic.com.