Curtis McKonly

Contact: Curtis McKonly

NEW RELEASES (2021)

Curtis wrote music and lyrics for two new songs, I'M A STONE HARBOR GIRL and SHE'S A STONE HARBOR GIRL. The songs feature the singers Candice Rans, Michelle Sharman, Leslie A. Soultanian and Curtis King, Jr. This is a pop recording and hopefully will get much airplay in the south Jersey beaches this summer.

Available online at Apple Music, Amazon.com, YouTube, Spotify.

PATRIOTIC RECORDINGS (2019)

Curtis arranged, orchestrated a new recording of AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, recorded with a 41 piece orchestra in addition to a chorus of 56 singers, featuring the vocal soloists, Joseph Mahowald and Leslie A. Soultanian. Two recordings have been released which include orchestra/chorus, and just orchestra.

Available online at Apple Music and Amazon.com.

HOLIDAY (2014)

Holiday songs composed and orchestrated by Curtis received airplay on Sirius XM Holly channel this past holiday season in addition to consecutive years. The song WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR features Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer Leslie Uggams. THE WARMTH OF CHRISTMAS is sung by recording artist Curtis King, Jr.

CLASSICAL (2015)

Curtis composed and orchestrated A SEARCH FOR PEACE for solo violin and orchestra, featuring the performance of violinist Robin Zeh. This elegant new composition features the 41-piece Curtis McKonly Orchestra, recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, CA.

Available online at iTunes, Amazon.com and other major digital music outlets.

Videos of songs can be accessed at curtismckonly.com.

Projects 2020

Curtis orchestrated music for Megan Hilty, featured performer with Cheyenne Jackson for the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

Projects 2012 & 2014

Curtis peformed the Christmas celebration tours with Mannheim Steamroller as the featured pianist, having performed to sellout crowds in many cities in the mid-west. CDs and DVDs are available, and concert is broadcast on PBS channels during the holiday season.

Projects 2012

Curtis orchestrated music for Jennifer Hudson, featured performer for the Boston Pops for the July 4, 2012 concert, broadcast on CBS: AND I AM TELLING YOU I'M NOT GOING. He also orchestrated the music for Jennifer for the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (performance on April 18, 2012).

Projects 2011

Curtis orchestrated for the Boston Pops for featured artist, Rockapella, for their tour with the Pops in December 2011, in addition to orchestrating for the Beach Boys, performing with the National Symphony Orchestra, also in December, 2011.

Posted videos with music he composed on YouTube - TV Themes, commercials, underscores and compositions: YouTube.com/CurtisMcKonly.

Curtis arranged & orchestrated music for the Boston Pops for featured artist, Tom Scholz, the founder of the rock band Boston (performance on June 2, 2011), in addition to other artists including Toby Keith (broadcast on CBS on July 4, 2010) and Ozomatli.

Curtis has orchestrated eight big band charts for composers David Tobin and Jeff Meegan in the style of the Rat Pack and Glenn Miller, which can by licensed through the music library Heavy Hitters Music.

Other Projects

Composed music cues which have been played on TV shows including NCIS, REVENGE, KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS, YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and ABC Promos.

Curtis played keyboard on numerous shows of LION KING, WICKED, WEST SIDE STORY, EVITA, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT,and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles.

Completed composing/orchestrating the score for an operetta for children, RAINBOW JUNCTION, book/lyrics by Gail Kriegel. Currently looking for a producer of the show.

December, 2003

No New Chestnuts On That Open Fire:
All the Good Christmas Songs are Aging

by Dru Sefton

Curtis McKonly, a New York City composer, arranger and musician, continues to write Christmas songs. He's even designed a line of cards inspired by one of his tunes, "Will Santa Come This Year?"

A bit of the lyrics: "When I see the snow and mistletoe, I know the day is near. With my heart aglow, how can I know 'Will Santa come this year?'

McKonly wrote the song in 1989. He's still championing it. "There are writers out here writing good Christmas songs, but having a hard time getting to the artists," McKonly said. "In the old days, writers had publishers that got songs to the artists.

And, artists back then were interested in recording new Christmas songs. "We had a lot of great performers, like Nat King Cole and Gene Autrey that would make the songs popular," McKonly said.

Those who study and enjoy Christmas music hold out hope that there are still classics being written.

© 2003 Newhouse News Service

December, 2014 & 2003

Welcome Yule!
Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Duain Wolfe, conductor
Gary Fry, director

2014: Curtis orchestrates two pieces, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, and NOW THAT YOU'RE HOME, IT'S CHRISTMAS, composed by Gary Fry for this year's festive concert.

2003: Curtis orchestrates THE SONG IN OUR HEARTS, composed by Gary Fry for the 2003 concert.

NEW RELEASE

Stone Harbor Girl

LISTEN

Curtis wrote/produced I'm A Stone Harbor Girl and She's A Stone Harbor Girl featuring Candice Rans, Michelle Sharman, Leslie A. Soultanian and Curtis King, Jr.

PATRIOTIC RELEASE

America The Beautiful

LISTEN

Curtis arranges/orchestrates America The Beautiful featuring orchestra, chorus and vocal soloists, Joseph Mahowald and Leslie A. Soultanian.

HOLIDAY & CLASSICAL RELEASES

Leslie Uggams Happy New Year

LISTEN

Wishing You A Happy New Year: A touching performance by the Tony and Emmy Award-winning Leslie Uggams offers a refreshing and nostalgic way to finish the year, and to embrace the year to come.

Curtis King Warmth Of Christmas

LISTEN

The Warmth Of Christmas: A soulful and heartfelt performance by Curtis King, Jr. as you hear the song of Christmas, a joyous Christmas, wonders everywhere.

LISTEN

A Search For Peace: A composition for solo violin and orchestra featuring the outstanding performance by violinist, Robin Zeh, with the Curtis McKonly Orchestra.

OTHER RELEASES

Vanessa Williams Star Bright

LISTEN

Curtis arranges The First Noel for Vanessa Williams for her Christmas CD, STAR BRIGHT. The CD received GOLD certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

America Heal/Pledge SONGS FOR AMERICA

LISTEN

Curtis composes Heal The Pain We Bear | The Pledge Of Allegiance as a tribute to the events of September 11. The CD was released in November of 2001. Many performances of these songs were presented in the New York area

Rick Henly Christmas Present

LISTEN

Rick Henly, trumpeter, records his CD, CHRISTMAS PRESENT for a Christmas release of that year. Curtis arranged The Christmas Song and his song, Will Santa Come This Year? for solo trumpet, orchestra and choir.

Rick Henly Love Like Fire

LISTEN

Rick Henly records his first CD, LOVE LIKE FIRE. Curtis arranges Sun & Moon for orchestra. Recently, Curtis reorchestrated the symphonic arrangement for concert band, which was performed by Rick in the summer of 2006.

Jeff Kievit For Once

LISTEN

Jeff Kievit commissioned Curtis to arrange When I Look In Your Eyes for solo trumpet and orchestra, featuring vocalist Brian Stokes Mitchell. This beautiful song, written by Leslie Bricusse is from the movie DOCTOR DOLITTLE starring Rex Harrison.

Truth

LISTEN

The Bethel Pentecostal Choir of Long Island, NY asked Curtis to orchestrate their second CD, THIS TRUTH SHALL TRIUMPH.

Our God

LISTEN

Curtis orchestrated selections for OUR GOD IS ONE, the first CD released by the choir from the Bethel Pentecostal Church.