Julie Giroux facts for kids

The composer Julie Giroux performing her piece for piano and band, Cordoba, in Houston, TX in 2010.

Julie Ann Giroux (born December 12, 1961) is an American pianist and composer. She writes music for orchestras, choirs, small groups of instruments (called chamber music), and many concert bands.

About Julie Giroux

Julie Giroux was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. She finished high school in Monroe, Louisiana. Later, she earned a music degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While in college, Julie wrote several pieces for concert bands. These were later published.

After college, she moved to Los Angeles, California. There, she started working as an orchestrator for famous American composer Bill Conti. She helped arrange music for the TV show North and South. In Los Angeles, Julie learned from other composers and orchestrators.

From 1985 to 1997, Julie worked on music for TV shows and movies. Some of these included April Fool's Day, Dynasty, North and South, The Karate Kid Part II, and White Men Can't Jump.

In 1997, Julie started focusing more on writing music for concert bands and orchestras. She published her music with Musica Propria. In 2004, she wrote a chapter in a book called "Composers on Composing for Band, Volume Two." In this chapter, she shared her funny and honest ways of writing music for bands.

Julie is also a talented pianist. In 2009, she performed her piece Cordoba for solo Piano and Concert Band in five different U.S. cities. She also attended the first performance of Arcus IX. This piece is for a solo F Tuba and Concert Band.

In 2009, she also worked on music for films and documentaries. One big project was "Call for Green China." This project was supported by the World Bank. Her music was performed live in China in 2007. The project grew in 2009 with new music. It then toured seven cities in China.

Julie Giroux's Symphony No. V, called "Elements," was first performed on June 9, 2018. The Eastern Wind Symphony played it with conductor Todd Nichols. Her trumpet concerto was also first performed in December 2018. This piece was commissioned by conductor Ray Cramer and featured Christopher Martin (trumpeter) of the New York Philharmonic.

Julie Giroux believes in using music to fight violence. She wrote a piece called My Soul to Keep. She made this music free for everyone to use forever. She created many versions, from a choir singing without instruments to a symphonic band with a choir. The first performance was in Orlando, Florida, on October 13, 2019. Another large concert was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in October 2020.

Julie is a member of the American Bandmasters Association (ABA). She is also an honorary member of the Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity at West Virginia University. She joined on April 2, 2005. In December 2017, she received the Distinguished Service to Music Medal.

Julie Giroux lives in Madison, Mississippi. She continues to write and arrange music for TV, movies, video games, wind bands, and orchestras.

Published Music

Julie Giroux's concert music is published by Musica Propria and Southern Music Company. Most of her works have been recorded by various music labels. Many United States Military Bands have also recorded her music. You can often listen to her concert band and wind ensemble works on her official website.

Orchestra Music

• Fort McHenry Suite
  • The Rockets Red Glare
  • Dimly Seen Through the Mists of the Deep
  • Freemen Shall Stand
• Arcus IX
• La Mezquita de Cordoba
• Moorish Piano Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in Four Movements

Concert Band and Wind Ensemble Music

Symphonies for Concert Band and Wind Ensemble

Music Arrangements

Recordings

• The Music of Julie Giroux
  • This album was released by Mark Masters in 2010. The University of Texas at El Paso Wind Symphony, led by Ron Hufstader, recorded it.
• Julie Giroux Presents "Concert Band Christmas Gone Crazy"
  • This album was released by Mark Masters in 2011. The University of Texas at El Paso Wind Symphony, with Ron Hufstader conducting, also recorded this one.
• Jingle them Bells - Christmas Favorites Re-imagined by Julie Giroux
  • This album was released by Klavier on October 30, 2012. The University of North Texas Symphonic Band, conducted by Dennis Fisher, performed the music.