Album Notes

This delightful suite of four pieces for solo piano, with accompanying stories, evokes a quartet of dragons from the realms of air, earth, water and fire. They are wonderful examples of accessible contemporary classical music that will inspire imaginations and motivate students to expand the repertoire of what they both play and listen to . Sheet music, story texts, and prints of original artwork are available from the composer by writing jwladragon@gmail.com.

Jamie Allen is the Director of Education for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra., whose award-winning educational programs reach over 60,000 children and adults each year. Allen has over 25 years experience as a composer, conductor, performer, educator, and author. In 1992 he was named Composer of the Year by the New Mexico Music Teachers Association, and was hailed as "the most inventive young composer in the state" by The Santa Fe Reporter.

Pianist and artist Toni Austin-Allen is highly regarded as one of the finest and most creative piano teachers in North Texas. In addition to being a pianist of rare musicality, she is also gifted visual artists, and images of the dragon paitings she created exclusively for this suite are featured in the published sheet music.