Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

March 1, 1951 in Pittsburgh, PA

Death

:

June 14, 1989 in Assas, France

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Scott Ross was a renowned American harpsichordist and conductor who was born on March 1, 1951, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a singer. Ross showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. However, it was not until he was a teenager that he discovered his love for the harpsichord. Ross studied music at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1972. He then went on to study at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, where he received his diploma in harpsichord performance in 1975. During his time in Switzerland, Ross studied under the renowned harpsichordist and conductor, Gustav Leonhardt. After completing his studies, Ross began his career as a harpsichordist and quickly gained recognition for his virtuosic playing and his ability to bring new life to Baroque music. He performed extensively throughout Europe and the United States, both as a soloist and as a member of various ensembles. One of Ross's most significant achievements was his recording of the complete keyboard works of Domenico Scarlatti. The project, which was completed in 1985, was a monumental undertaking that took Ross several years to complete. The recording was widely praised for its technical brilliance and its ability to capture the spirit of Scarlatti's music. Ross also had a successful career as a conductor, leading many orchestras and ensembles in performances of Baroque music. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. In addition to his performing and conducting career, Ross was also a respected musicologist and scholar. He wrote several books on Baroque music, including a biography of Scarlatti and a study of the music of Bach. Sadly, Ross's career was cut short when he was diagnosed with AIDS in the late 1980s. He continued to perform and record despite his illness, but his health began to decline rapidly in the early 1990s. He passed away on June 13, 1989, at the age of 38. Despite his short career, Scott Ross left a lasting legacy in the world of classical music. His recordings of Scarlatti's keyboard works and his interpretations of Bach and Handel's music continue to be celebrated by music lovers and scholars alike. Ross's virtuosic playing and his passion for Baroque music have inspired countless musicians and will continue to do so for generations to come.

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