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Stefan Freund is a renowned American composer and cellist, born on August 24, 1969, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a cellist and his mother a pianist. Freund started playing the cello at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. He received his formal education in music at the Juilliard School, where he studied with Harvey Shapiro and Joel Krosnick. Freund's early compositions were heavily influenced by his training in classical music, and he was particularly drawn to the works of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. However, he was also interested in exploring new sounds and techniques, and he began experimenting with electronic music and improvisation. This led him to collaborate with a variety of musicians from different genres, including jazz, rock, and world music. One of Freund's most significant works is his cello concerto, which he composed in 2005. The piece was commissioned by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and premiered by cellist Daniel Lee and conductor David Robertson. The concerto is a complex and challenging work that showcases Freund's virtuosity as a cellist and his skill as a composer. It has been praised for its innovative use of orchestration and its ability to blend classical and contemporary styles. Another notable work by Freund is his chamber opera, "The Long Walk," which he composed in collaboration with librettist Jeremy Howard Beck. The opera tells the story of a soldier who returns home from war with PTSD and struggles to readjust to civilian life. The piece premiered in 2015 at Opera Saratoga and has since been performed at several other venues, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. "The Long Walk" has been praised for its powerful and emotional score, which captures the psychological trauma of war. Freund has also composed several works for dance, including "The Heart of the Matter," which he created in collaboration with choreographer Jennifer Archibald. The piece premiered in 2018 at the Joyce Theater in New York City and has since been performed at several other venues. "The Heart of the Matter" is a dynamic and energetic work that blends classical and contemporary dance styles with Freund's innovative score. In addition to his work as a composer, Freund is also an accomplished cellist and has performed with several orchestras and ensembles, including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He is also a founding member of the contemporary music ensemble Alarm Will Sound, which has gained international acclaim for its innovative and boundary-pushing performances. Freund's work has been recognized with several awards and honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fromm Foundation Commission, and a Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has also been a resident composer at several prestigious institutions, including the MacDowell Colony, the Yaddo Artist Colony, and the American Academy in Rome. In conclusion, Stefan Freund is a highly accomplished composer and cellist who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His innovative and boundary-pushing works have earned him international acclaim and have helped to redefine the genre for a new generation of listeners.

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