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Composer

 

Philip Martin Lawrence II was born on May 12, 1985, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical violinist. From a young age, Lawrence was exposed to a wide variety of music and began playing the piano at the age of four. As a child, Lawrence showed a natural talent for music and quickly began to excel in his piano studies. He was accepted into the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division at the age of nine, where he studied with renowned pianist Yoheved Kaplinsky. Lawrence continued his studies at Juilliard, earning his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance in 2007. During his time at Juilliard, Lawrence began to explore composition and quickly discovered a passion for creating his own music. He studied composition with Samuel Adler and Robert Beaser, and his works were performed by the Juilliard Orchestra and the New Juilliard Ensemble. After graduating from Juilliard, Lawrence continued his studies at the Yale School of Music, where he earned his Master of Music degree in Composition in 2009. While at Yale, he studied with Martin Bresnick and Christopher Theofanidis and was awarded the Woods Chandler Memorial Prize for his composition "Three Pieces for Orchestra." Since completing his studies, Lawrence has established himself as a prominent composer in the classical music world. His works have been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. One of Lawrence's most notable works is his Piano Concerto No. 1, which was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic and premiered in 2014. The concerto, which features Lawrence as the soloist, is a virtuosic showcase for the piano and has been praised for its inventive use of orchestration and harmony. Another highlight of Lawrence's career is his opera, "The Scarlet Letter," which premiered at the Opera Colorado in 2016. The opera, which is based on the classic novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who is shunned by her community after having a child out of wedlock. Lawrence's score for the opera has been praised for its emotional depth and dramatic intensity. In addition to his work as a composer, Lawrence is also an accomplished pianist and has performed as a soloist with orchestras around the world. He has recorded several albums of classical piano music, including works by Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy. Throughout his career, Lawrence has been recognized for his contributions to the classical music world. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Guggenheim Fellowship. He has also been a resident composer at several prestigious institutions, including the MacDowell Colony and the Yaddo Artist Colony. Despite his success, Lawrence remains dedicated to his craft and continues to push the boundaries of classical music. His works are known for their emotional depth, technical virtuosity, and innovative use of harmony and orchestration. As he continues to compose and perform, Lawrence is sure to leave a lasting impact on the classical music world.

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