Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

James Preiss is a renowned classical music artist who has made a significant contribution to the world of music. He was born on August 22, 1951, in New York City, United States. Preiss grew up in a family of musicians, and his parents were both professional musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Preiss was exposed to music from a young age, and he showed a keen interest in it. Preiss started his music education at the age of six when he began taking piano lessons. He showed exceptional talent and quickly progressed in his studies. At the age of ten, he started playing the drums and percussion instruments. Preiss was fascinated by the sound of percussion instruments and spent hours practicing and experimenting with different rhythms and beats. Preiss continued his music education at the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied percussion under the guidance of Morris Lang. He also studied composition with John Corigliano and George Perle. Preiss graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1973. After completing his studies, Preiss started his career as a freelance percussionist. He played with various orchestras and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the American Symphony Orchestra. Preiss also performed with jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Chick Corea. Preiss's talent and dedication to music soon caught the attention of the music industry, and he was offered a position as a percussionist with the New York City Ballet Orchestra in 1976. He played with the orchestra for over 30 years and was the principal percussionist for most of that time. Preiss's performances with the New York City Ballet Orchestra were highly acclaimed, and he received numerous accolades for his work. In addition to his work with the New York City Ballet Orchestra, Preiss also performed with other orchestras and ensembles. He was a member of the New York Philharmonic's percussion section for several years and played with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the New York Pops. Preiss's talent as a percussionist was not limited to classical music. He also played with rock bands such as The Who, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd. Preiss's versatility as a musician allowed him to play a wide range of music genres, and he was highly sought after by musicians from different backgrounds. Preiss's contribution to the world of music was not limited to his performances as a percussionist. He was also a composer and arranger and wrote music for various ensembles and orchestras. Preiss's compositions were highly regarded, and he received commissions from the New York City Ballet, the American Symphony Orchestra, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Preiss's dedication to music and his exceptional talent were recognized by the music industry, and he received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1995, he was awarded the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for his composition "The Garden of Cosmic Speculation." In 2001, he received the Percussive Arts Society's Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the world of percussion. Preiss retired from the New York City Ballet Orchestra in 2008 but continued to perform and compose music. He taught percussion at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School and was a guest lecturer at various universities and music schools.

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