Chippewa Valley Times

Heidi Joosten, a Chicago-based composer and alumna of UW-Eau Claire, recently returned to her alma mater for a special event. Her visit was marked by a performance of one of her compositions at the Pablo Center at the Confluence. The piece was performed by the UW-Eau Claire Symphonic Choir, a Blugold brass quintet, and the Red Cedar Choir from UW-Eau Claire – Barron County.

Joosten expressed excitement about this collaboration: “Commissioned by these ensembles for this instrumentation, I created a new arrangement of my 2014 composition ‘Gaudete Omnes’ for this collaboration, one that was expanded from its original piano accompaniment to include brass,” she said.

Joosten has built an impressive career in music composition since graduating in 2013. She later earned her master's degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago and has worked extensively in musical theater. Notable achievements include over 100 credits as music director, orchestrator, and associate conductor. She served as associate conductor for "Barbie: Live in Concert" at the Hollywood Bowl and worked on the national tour of Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth.” Joosten is also conducting the sold-out national tour of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

In 2024, Joosten received significant recognition when she became only the second woman to earn a Joseph Jefferson Award for outstanding music direction with her work on Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins."

Reflecting on her return to UW-Eau Claire, Joosten shared: “I think I would have been completely shocked to get a glimpse of this in my future...I’ve been very lucky.”

Music education senior Liam Casey highlighted the value of working with Joosten: “It really opens the door to professional music for us as students — there is no time to waste in rehearsal,” he noted.

Dr. Christopher McGinley coordinated this collaboration with input from Elizabeth Joosten, Heidi’s mother and director of the Red Cedar Choir. McGinley commented on the benefits: “The nice thing about a commissioned revision...is that ultimately it’s helping her more widely share her music.”

Elizabeth Joosten added: “As the Red Cedar director...it has been such a privilege and joy to program and perform Heidi’s music.”

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