Mr. Griebling recently retired from the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company where he worked as a tire development engineer for nearly 40 years. He holds four patents and received two presidents' awards for original and creative thinking.
He was recently elected president of the Cleveland Free Flight Society.
He served as Junior Composers' Chairman for the O.F.M.C. where he took much care in writing constructive comments about each piece and in assembling the superior-rated manuscripts into a published booklet each year. In 1974 the Griebling family, all composers, was named Ohio Musical Family of the Year by Governor John Gilligan.
Griebling's compositions range from songs to orchestral works. His "Queensmere: Dec. 1964" was premiered by Louis Lane and the Akron Symphony in 1974 and was later awarded first prize in the NSOA composition contest. "Modern American Classics, Vol.2",a compact disc with the Warsaw Philharmonic on the "MMC" label, (MMC 2027)includes this piece.
In 1989 his first symphony was premiered by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Ferritto and was given a standing ovation by the enthusiastic audience.
His works have also been performed by the Akron Symphony Chorus, the Cleveland Octet and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. His songs and choral works have been performed throughout the USA and Europe. His music is published by Willis Music and the Southern Music Company.
In 1993 Mr. Griebling collaborated with poet Robert Crawford in the writing of Jefferson Music, a dramatic narrative commemorating the 250th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth. Narration by Dr. James Stuart was accompanied by John Ferritto conducting a small chamber ensemble.
Griebling classifies himself as a neo-romantic composer. His style has changed little since he began to compose and his pieces are always melodious and direct. Composers he greatly admires include Debussy, Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Prokofieff, Beethoven and Corelli.
Stephen Griebling works