Role

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Composer

Genre

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Choral

 

Robert A. Harris is a renowned American composer of classical music. He was born on September 12, 1943, in Newark, New Jersey. Harris grew up in a musical family, and his parents were both amateur musicians. His father played the violin, and his mother played the piano. Harris showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. Harris attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he studied composition with Vincent Persichetti and Roger Sessions. He also studied conducting with Jean Morel and Leonard Bernstein. After graduating from Juilliard, Harris continued his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in composition. Harris's early works were influenced by the serialism and atonality of the mid-20th century. However, he soon began to develop his own unique style, which combined elements of tonality, rhythm, and melody. His music is characterized by its emotional depth, expressive lyricism, and intricate harmonies. One of Harris's early works, "Symphony No. 1," was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1969. The piece was well-received by critics and established Harris as a promising young composer. In the following years, Harris continued to compose orchestral works, including "Symphony No. 2" and "Symphony No. 3." Harris also began to receive commissions for chamber music and vocal works. One of his most notable works in this genre is "Songs of Illumination," a song cycle for soprano and piano based on the poetry of Rumi. The piece was premiered by soprano Dawn Upshaw and pianist Gilbert Kalish in 1997 and has since been performed by numerous other artists. In addition to his work as a composer, Harris has also been active as a conductor and educator. He has conducted numerous orchestras and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the American Composers Orchestra. He has also taught at several universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Juilliard School. Harris's music has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He has received grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2005, he was awarded the Aaron Copland Award for his contributions to American music. One of Harris's most recent works is "Requiem for the Living," a choral work that was premiered in 2014. The piece was commissioned by the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and is dedicated to the victims of war and violence. The work has been praised for its emotional power and its ability to connect with audiences on a deep level. Overall, Robert A. Harris is a composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His music is characterized by its emotional depth, expressive lyricism, and intricate harmonies. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, and his music continues to be performed and admired by audiences around the world.

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