Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

March 2, 1917

Death

:

December 12, 2011

 

John Gardner was a British composer, conductor, and music educator who was born on March 2, 1917, in Manchester, England. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Gardner began his musical education at an early age, studying piano and violin with his mother. He later attended the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he studied composition with Richard Hall and piano with Iso Elinson. After completing his studies, Gardner worked as a freelance composer and conductor, writing music for a variety of ensembles and occasions. He also taught music at several schools and universities, including the Royal Academy of Music, where he was a professor of composition from 1965 to 1982. Gardner's early works were influenced by the neoclassical style of composers such as Stravinsky and Hindemith. His first major composition, the Piano Concerto No. 1, was premiered in 1946 and received critical acclaim. Gardner continued to write concertos for various instruments throughout his career, including the Violin Concerto, the Cello Concerto, and the Concerto for Trumpet and Strings. In addition to his concertos, Gardner wrote a number of orchestral works, including the Symphony No. 1, which was premiered in 1951. He also composed chamber music, choral works, and operas. One of his most famous works is the opera The Moon and Sixpence, which is based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Gardner was known for his ability to write in a variety of styles, from the neoclassical works of his early career to the more modernist pieces he wrote later in life. He was also a skilled conductor and often conducted his own works in concert. Throughout his career, Gardner received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1976 and was awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Society of Arts. Gardner continued to compose and conduct music well into his later years. He died on December 12, 2011, at the age of 94. His legacy as a composer and educator continues to inspire musicians around the world.

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