Role

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Composer

Period

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Contemporary

Genre

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Band

 

Jere Hutcheson was born on May 12, 1952, in the small town of El Dorado, Arkansas. From a young age, he showed a natural talent for music, and his parents encouraged him to pursue his passion. He began playing the piano at the age of six and quickly progressed to other instruments, including the violin and trumpet. Hutcheson's family moved to Dallas, Texas, when he was a teenager, and he continued his musical education there. He attended the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where he studied composition and orchestration. After graduating, he went on to study at the University of North Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. After completing his undergraduate studies, Hutcheson moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. He worked as a freelance composer and arranger, writing music for television commercials, films, and other media. He also continued to compose classical music, and his works began to gain recognition in the New York music scene. In 1982, Hutcheson was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic to write a piece for their Young People's Concerts series. The resulting work, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," was a great success and was later performed by other orchestras around the country. This marked a turning point in Hutcheson's career, as he began to focus more on composing classical music. Over the next few years, Hutcheson continued to write orchestral works, including several symphonies and concertos. His music was characterized by its lush harmonies, intricate counterpoint, and use of traditional forms and structures. He was also known for his ability to write music that was accessible to audiences while still being intellectually stimulating. In 1990, Hutcheson was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which allowed him to take a sabbatical from his freelance work and focus on composing full-time. During this period, he wrote some of his most acclaimed works, including his Symphony No. 3 and his Piano Concerto No. 2. Hutcheson's music continued to be performed by orchestras around the world, and he received numerous awards and honors for his work. In 2002, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, one of the highest honors a composer can receive in the United States. Throughout his career, Hutcheson remained committed to teaching and mentoring young composers. He taught composition at several universities, including the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music. He also served as a mentor to many young composers, offering advice and guidance on their work. Sadly, Hutcheson passed away in 2010 at the age of 58. However, his legacy lives on through his music and the many composers he inspired and mentored. His works continue to be performed and recorded by orchestras around the world, and he is remembered as one of the most important American composers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

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