Role

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Composer

Birth

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in Los Angeles, CA

 

Jeffery Cotton is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1956 in the United States. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. Cotton began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and guitar. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music composition. After graduating from UCLA, Cotton continued his studies at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in music composition. While at CalArts, he studied with renowned composers Morton Subotnick and Mel Powell. Cotton also studied with composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts. Cotton's early works were heavily influenced by jazz and rock music, but he later turned to classical music and began composing for orchestras and chamber ensembles. His compositions are known for their intricate harmonies and use of unconventional instruments. One of Cotton's most notable works is his Symphony No. 1, which was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and premiered in 1990. The symphony is a four-movement work that features a large orchestra and incorporates elements of jazz and rock music. The piece has been praised for its complex rhythms and harmonies, as well as its use of electronic instruments. Cotton has also composed several chamber works, including his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the Kronos Quartet in 1992. The piece is a three-movement work that features unconventional techniques such as plucking the strings with a credit card and using a bow made of fishing line. In addition to his classical compositions, Cotton has also composed music for film and television. He has worked on several documentaries and television shows, including the PBS series "American Masters" and the HBO series "The Sopranos." Cotton has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He has also been a resident composer at several prestigious institutions, including the MacDowell Colony and the Yaddo artist colony. Overall, Jeffery Cotton is a highly respected composer in the contemporary classical music world. His works are known for their intricate harmonies and use of unconventional instruments, and he has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field.

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