Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

December 7, 1947

Death

:

December 5, 2005

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Stephen Mosko was an American composer and conductor who was born on May 27, 1947, in Buffalo, New York. He was raised in a family that valued music, and he began playing the piano at a young age. Mosko's parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Mosko attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he studied composition with Morton Feldman and Lejaren Hiller. He also studied conducting with Lukas Foss and Michael Tilson Thomas. Mosko received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1969 and his Master of Music degree in 1971. After completing his studies, Mosko began his career as a composer and conductor. He was known for his innovative approach to music, which combined elements of classical, jazz, and rock music. Mosko's music was often characterized by its complex rhythms, unconventional harmonies, and use of electronic instruments. Mosko's breakthrough came in 1981 when he was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic to compose a piece for their "New Music Group" series. The resulting work, "Time after Time," was a critical success and established Mosko as a major figure in contemporary classical music. Over the course of his career, Mosko composed over 100 works, including orchestral pieces, chamber music, and operas. His music was performed by some of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Mosko was also a respected conductor, and he led many of his own compositions in performance. He was the music director of the California EAR Unit, a contemporary music ensemble based in Los Angeles, from 1981 to 1991. Mosko also conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the New World Symphony, among others. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Mosko was a dedicated teacher. He taught at the California Institute of the Arts, the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Southern California. Mosko was known for his ability to inspire his students and encourage them to explore new ideas in music. Mosko's contributions to contemporary classical music were recognized with numerous awards and honors. He received grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Guggenheim Foundation. Mosko was also a recipient of the American Academy of Arts and Letters Music Award and the Kennedy Center Friedheim Award. Despite his success, Mosko's life was cut short by cancer. He passed away on November 13, 2005, at the age of 58. Mosko's legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and studied by musicians and scholars around the world.

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