Role

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Composer Conductor

Birth

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1956

Genre

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Band

 

Alan Fletcher was a renowned American composer, pianist, and educator who was born on February 14, 1956, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was the son of a composer and a pianist, and his parents played a significant role in his early musical education. Fletcher began playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Fletcher attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied composition with David Diamond and Vincent Persichetti. He also studied piano with Beveridge Webster and Adele Marcus. After graduating from Juilliard, Fletcher continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, where he studied with Hans Swarowsky. Fletcher's early compositions were heavily influenced by the music of the Second Viennese School, particularly the works of Arnold Schoenberg. However, he soon developed his own unique style, which combined elements of serialism, minimalism, and traditional tonality. His music was characterized by its rhythmic complexity, intricate textures, and emotional intensity. Fletcher's first major work was his Piano Concerto, which he composed in 1980. The concerto was premiered by the New York Philharmonic, with Fletcher himself as the soloist. The work was well-received by critics and established Fletcher as a major new talent in the world of classical music. Over the next few years, Fletcher continued to compose a series of highly acclaimed works, including his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the Emerson String Quartet in 1983. The quartet was praised for its intricate counterpoint and emotional depth. In 1985, Fletcher was appointed the composer-in-residence of the Aspen Music Festival, a position he held for five years. During this time, he composed a number of works for the festival, including his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the Aspen Festival Orchestra in 1987. The symphony was praised for its lush orchestration and emotional power. In 1990, Fletcher was appointed the president and CEO of the Aspen Music Festival and School, a position he held for 23 years. During his tenure, he oversaw the growth and development of the festival, which became one of the most prestigious classical music events in the world. Despite his administrative duties, Fletcher continued to compose throughout his career. In 1995, he composed his Piano Trio, which was premiered by the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. The work was praised for its intricate interplay between the three instruments and its emotional depth. In 2006, Fletcher composed his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The symphony was praised for its complex rhythms and intricate textures, as well as its emotional power. Fletcher's final major work was his Piano Concerto No. 2, which he composed in 2013. The concerto was premiered by the Aspen Festival Orchestra, with pianist Inon Barnatan as the soloist. The work was praised for its virtuosic piano writing and emotional intensity. Throughout his career, Fletcher was recognized as one of the leading composers of his generation. He received numerous awards and honors, including the ASCAP Foundation's Victor Herbert Award, the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Academy Award in Music, and the National Endowment for the Arts' Composer Fellowship. Fletcher passed away on January 15, 2018, at the age of 61.

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