Jo Sisk-Purvis

​writer of fiction and music for children, young adults, and ​dreamers of all ages

Performance and Original Compositions

Flute Performance

Light Screens was written by composer Andrew Norman for Joanna when they were both graduate students at the University of Southern California. Since that time, Mr. Norman has been called “one of the most gifted and respected composers of his generation” by the New York Times, and his music has been performed around the world and won multiple international-level awards. Light Screens was rearranged for string quartet, and has received many performances in that form, but this is the original, with Joanna on flute, Joel Pargman on violin, Luke Maurer on viola, and Lars Hoefs on cello.

Jo plays a clip from Thea Musgrave's Narcissus for solo flute and digital delay.

Jo plays Zoom Tube for solo flute by Ian Clarke. Like a rock guitar solo for flute, full of extended techniques.

Joanna's composition for intermediate string orchestra, NEW MOON DANCE, was recently chosen as the grand prize winner of the Noteflight/El Sistema USA call for compositions contest. Its live premiere has been delayed until after the COVID-19 crisis, but you can listen to this virtual instrument recording, and see/purchase the score here.

a hundred names for snow is a 4-minute exploration for advanced flute and piano. Recording and score coming soon!

Original Compositions and Arrangements

Joanna has composed numerous songs for children in her work as a music educator. Here are just a few:

  • Go in Peace–a short, non-religious song for exiting Friends Meeting or other gatherings
  • Thanksgiving Round–a haunting round that is not about religion or turkeys
  • Imagination Song–written to precede a performance of Peter Pan (score coming soon)
  • The Time Is Always Right (To Do What's Right)–a longer song inspired by (and including) the quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Freedom!–A song written for MLK day about the true meaning of freedom (score coming soon)

Arrangements for string orchestra: