Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1958

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

David Rakowski is a contemporary American composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on January 22, 1958, in St. Albans, Vermont, Rakowski grew up in a musical family. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a classical pianist. Rakowski started playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Rakowski attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied composition with William Thomas McKinley and Malcolm Peyton. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1980 and went on to earn his Master of Music degree from the same institution in 1982. During his time at the conservatory, Rakowski was exposed to a wide range of musical styles, including jazz, rock, and classical music. After completing his studies, Rakowski moved to New York City, where he worked as a freelance composer and pianist. He also taught at Columbia University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 1995, Rakowski joined the faculty at Brandeis University, where he is currently a professor of music. Rakowski's music is known for its complexity and wit. He has composed works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo performers. His compositions often incorporate elements of jazz and popular music, as well as classical forms and techniques. One of Rakowski's most notable works is his series of 100 piano etudes, which he began composing in 1988. The etudes are short, virtuosic pieces that explore a wide range of musical ideas and techniques. Rakowski has described the etudes as "a kind of musical diary," and they have been praised for their technical brilliance and musical depth. In addition to his piano etudes, Rakowski has composed a number of other works that have received critical acclaim. His Symphony No. 4, commissioned by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, was described by The Boston Globe as "a work of great imagination and skill." His Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, commissioned by the Albany Symphony Orchestra, was praised by The New York Times for its "brilliantly inventive" use of the solo instrument. Rakowski has received numerous awards and honors for his work as a composer. He was a recipient of the Rome Prize in 1996 and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. He has also been recognized for his contributions to music education, receiving the Brandeis University Louis Dembitz Brandeis Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2011. In addition to his work as a composer and educator, Rakowski is also an accomplished pianist. He has performed his own works and those of other composers in concerts throughout the United States and Europe. David Rakowski's contributions to the world of classical music have been significant. His music is known for its technical brilliance, musical depth, and wit. His piano etudes, in particular, have become a staple of the contemporary piano repertoire. As a composer and educator, Rakowski has inspired countless musicians and helped to shape the future of classical music.

More....