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Isaac Schankler is a contemporary classical music composer based in Los Angeles, California. Born in 1980 in New York City, Schankler grew up in a musical family and began playing piano at a young age. He later studied composition at the University of California, San Diego, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 2002 and his Master of Fine Arts degree in 2004. Schankler's music is characterized by its eclectic style, drawing on a wide range of influences from classical music, jazz, rock, and electronic music. His compositions often feature unconventional instrumentation, such as toy pianos, found objects, and electronics, and explore themes of memory, identity, and the natural world. One of Schankler's early works, "The Memory of Water," was inspired by the idea that water has a memory and can retain information about its surroundings. The piece, which was premiered in 2003, features a quartet of water-filled wine glasses that are played by rubbing the rims with wet fingers. The resulting sound is haunting and ethereal, evoking the fluidity and transparency of water. Another notable work by Schankler is "Mobile II," a piece for toy piano and electronics that was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic for their "Green Umbrella" series in 2010. The piece explores the idea of mobility and movement, with the toy piano representing a small, portable instrument that can be taken anywhere. The electronics, meanwhile, provide a backdrop of ambient soundscapes that suggest the changing landscapes and environments through which the performer might travel. In addition to his work as a composer, Schankler is also an active performer and collaborator. He has worked with a variety of musicians and artists, including the experimental music ensemble wild Up, the dance company BODYTRAFFIC, and the visual artist Miwa Matreyek. He has also been involved in several interdisciplinary projects that combine music with other art forms, such as film, theater, and poetry. One such project is "The Ephemeral Abstractions of Time," a multimedia collaboration with the poet and visual artist Kate Durbin. The piece, which was premiered in 2017, combines Schankler's music with Durbin's poetry and Matreyek's animation to create a surreal and dreamlike world that explores the nature of time and memory. Schankler's music has been performed by a variety of ensembles and orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the American Composers Orchestra, and the International Contemporary Ensemble. He has also received numerous awards and honors for his work, including grants from the American Music Center, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and the Fromm Music Foundation. Overall, Isaac Schankler is a unique and innovative voice in contemporary classical music, whose work combines a deep understanding of traditional musical forms with a willingness to experiment and push boundaries. His compositions are characterized by their beauty, complexity, and emotional depth, and his commitment to collaboration and interdisciplinary work has helped to expand the possibilities of what classical music can be.

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