Academic Course Head, Music Teacher
Bachelor of Music, Music Composition, University of Texas, Tyler
Associates of Arts, Music Composition, Collin College
Mr.
Francis first graduated from Collin College in Plano, TX with an
Associates Degree in Music focusing on composition and minoring in
piano. At this school he studied composition under Dr. Christopher
Morgan, and piano under Zhou Xiaolan. He then studied music composition
at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX for one year, while
continuing piano lessons under Ms. Zhou, before transferring to the
University of Texas, Tyler where he majored in composition, studying
under Dr. Brian Bondari and Dr. Kyle Gullings, with piano lessons from
Ms. Vicki Conway. It is at the University of Texas, Tyler that Colton
graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors
of Music in Music Composition.
Mr.Francis
is a bi-lingual (English and Mandarin) educator who from 2012 to 2018
taught music theory, music composition, and aural skills at Lang Lang’s
personal piano school, Lang Lang Music World, where he developed new
game-based methods for teaching theory to young musicians. Since 2018,
he is stationed at the Vanke Meisha Arts Academy for professional
musicians teaching music composition, music theory, and music history.
His composition students have been accepted into such prestigious
schools as Juilliard, Eastman, Peabody Institute, Mannes School of
Music,San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Berklee College of Music, and
Manhattan school of music.
As a composer, numerous solo and small
ensemble pieces have been performed by members of the Longview Symphony
Orchestra, while also composing commercial and game music for some of
China’s largest companies – such as Double Happiness and Tencent.
Additionally, his award winning musical, The Beard Clan’s Secret
Treasure, performed to sold-out audiences in Shenzhen’s Baoli theatre
and Children’s Palace theatre.Since 2020 he has been composer in
residence for the Trout Piano Quartet, responsible for composing
original works for the chamber group as well as making chamber
arrangements from other popular and Classical works.His pieces have been
premiered in a number of top concert halls throughout all of mainland
China including the Shenzhen Concert Hall, Shenzhen Baoli Theatre,
Shanghai City Theatre, Shanghai Daning Theatre, Beijing National Arts
Center, and many more.