Tobias Deggans

About

Tobias J. E. Deggans (b. 2004) is a Florida-based conductor, composer, vocalist, and multi-disciplinary artist. Drawing inspiration from contemporary choral music and experimental indie esoterica in equal measure, Tobias makes music that is innovative, playful, and emotionally resonant. His compositional work is centered on intentional text setting that spotlights underrepresented perspectives within the choral tradition.

      In Tobias’ view, the most impactful works in any genre are those that are deceptively simple and unfailingly earnest. He values emotional honesty and performability in all aspects of his work, but above all, Tobias aims to facilitate the bald-faced joy that comes with making music.

      As a transgender man with his roots firmly planted in the American south, Tobias is committed to using his artistic opportunities and educational experience to foster healing, catharsis, and human connection—qualities he knows firsthand that choral music is uniquely equipped to offer.

      Tobias is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music Education in Choral Music Education at Florida State University, under the guidance of Dr. Kevin Fenton and vocal tutelage of Dr. Jeffery Springer. He is a member of and frequent arranger for Florida State’s premiere Tenor-bass A Cappella ensemble, Reverb, as well as Florida State’s premiere undergraduate touring choir, the University Singers, under the direction of Dr. Kevin Fenton. He has premiered works with the Collegians, Reverb A Cappella, and Isiah Maxey during his time at Florida State. He is an active member of the Collegiate Choral Composition Community.

      Tobias is currently a member of the FSU College of Music’s Undergraduate Board of Advisors. He is also a member Florida State’s American Choral Director’s Association chapter, Who won ACDA’s National Student Chapter Award during his 2-year tenure as Treasurer.

• released

Stand Up Now, Arr. Sean Barnette (ASCAP) - Lyricist
    available from Santa Barbara Music Publishing Co.

[the cry of the cicada] - TTBB w/ Tenor solo and Piano, 3'.
Text by Matsuo Bashō.
  Premiered Apr. 3, 2025 by the Collegians at FSU, Conducted by Dr. Kevin Fenton
    the cry of the cicada / gives us no sign / that presently it will die.
[the cry of the cicada] is a meditation on gendered expectations and the repertoire we choose for "male" choirs. Set in Bb Mixolydian, this bittersweet piece re-contextualizes Matsuo Bashō's haiku discussing the fleeting beauty of nature to instead make us wonder about the enforcement of gender roles through repertoire programming choices: specifically regarding voice parts we deem too masculine for emotional vulnerability— even in art.

Thus Saith the Mother of Exiles (or, The New Colossus) - SATB, unaccompanied, 4'51".
Text by Emma Lazarus.
  Premiered Nov. 3, 2024 at FSU, Conducted by Isiah Maxey
    Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand / A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame / Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name / Mother of Exiles.
Originally written for Vox Nova Chamber Choir of St. Petersburg Florida's Gibbs High School, Thus Saith the Mother of Exiles is meant as a firm admonishment of America's current treatment of asylum seekers and immigrants by way of re-contextualizing selections from Emma Lazarus' The New Colossus (famous for its placement on the Statue of Liberty). In the poem, this "Mother of Exiles" asks for the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to break free. But do we receive them with open arms? Are we the givers of asylum, or the oldheads with "storied pomp"?

Dwyer's Lament - SATB w/ divisi, unaccompanied, 2'40".
Original text.
  Premiere TBD.
Much of the art surrounding delicate topics of mental health, and suicidality especially, err on the side of sweeping, uplifting messages and major chords. While this approach works for some, Dwyer's Lament aims for a more cynical— or maybe a more human— approach. Morphing slowly from small to large scale, Dwyer’s Lament makes one thing very clear: no matter how insignificant you think you are, This Will Hurt Someone.

Take Me Away Again (Peniscoladaville) - Multimedia Graphic Score, variable instrumentation, variable length.
    Premiered at Florida State University by Omnimusica / Noise Music Ensemble

Upcoming

Studio Album Falling with FSU's Reverb A Cappella (Release TBA):
      Featured Soloist: Love on the Brain (Rihanna), Pink + White (Frank Ocean)      Arranger: Lover, You Should've Come Over (Jeff Buckley)

Act 3, Scene 2 (He Was My Friend)

Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead Cover)

A Quick One Before The Eternal Worm Devours The Microphone (Have A Nice Life Cover)

• The New Colossus

• [the cry of the cicada]

• Dwyer's Lament

want to purchase?
send me an email :)

• Take Me Away Again

commissioned
work

If you've seen anything you like and you'd like something done specifically for you, contact me! I'm always stoked to actualize something for you :)

I work pretty fast and loose with rates-- it's a sliding scale depending on turnaround, medium, complexity, and any special financial circumstances on your part.

I'm happy to do commissioned work in any of the mediums showcased here: arrangement, composition, lyrics, poetry, and mixed media collage are all fair game.