Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

1939

 

David Stock was an American composer and conductor who was born on November 2, 1939, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Stock began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the violin and viola. He attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1961. He then went on to study composition at the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned a Master of Music degree in 1963. Stock's early compositions were influenced by the serialism of Arnold Schoenberg and the avant-garde music of the 1960s. However, he later developed his own unique style, which blended elements of classical music with jazz, rock, and other popular music genres. He was particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of electronic music and was one of the first composers to use computer technology in his compositions. Stock's career as a composer and conductor spanned over five decades. He was the founder and artistic director of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, which he led from 1976 to 2001. He also served as the music director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra from 1982 to 1988 and was a professor of music at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh from 1966 to 2015. Stock's compositions include works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, and electronic media. Some of his most notable works include "Bridges," a concerto for violin and orchestra; "Three American Pieces," a suite for orchestra; and "Electronic Study No. 1," a pioneering work in the field of electronic music. He also composed several operas, including "The Perils of Pauline," which premiered at the Pittsburgh Opera in 2007. Stock's music has been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the London Sinfonietta. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship, and the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award. In addition to his work as a composer, Stock was also a respected conductor and educator. He conducted many of his own compositions and was known for his ability to bring out the best in his performers. He was a passionate advocate for new music and worked tirelessly to promote the work of young composers. David Stock passed away on November 2, 2015, at the age of 76. He left behind a rich legacy of innovative and influential music, as well as a lasting impact on the world of contemporary classical music. His work continues to be performed and celebrated by musicians and audiences around the world.

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