Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1968

 

Nicolas Scherzinger was a classical music composer born on October 17, 1978, in San Francisco, California. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a composer and his mother a pianist. From a young age, Scherzinger was exposed to classical music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Scherzinger attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition with David Conte and piano with Paul Hersh. He later went on to earn his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California, where he studied with Stephen Hartke and Morten Lauridsen. Scherzinger continued his education at the Yale School of Music, where he earned his Master of Music degree in composition. Throughout his career, Scherzinger composed a wide range of works, including orchestral, chamber, and vocal music. His compositions were often inspired by literature, art, and nature. One of his most notable works is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the San Francisco Symphony in 2008. The symphony is a four-movement work that explores the themes of nature and the environment. The first movement, titled "The Sea," is a depiction of the ocean, while the second movement, "The Forest," is a musical representation of a forest. The third movement, "The Desert," is a portrayal of the desert, and the final movement, "The Sky," is a depiction of the sky. Another notable work by Scherzinger is his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the Del Sol String Quartet in 2005. The quartet is a three-movement work that explores the themes of memory and nostalgia. The first movement, titled "Remembrance," is a reflection on the past, while the second movement, "Nostalgia," is a musical representation of longing. The final movement, "Reconciliation," is a resolution of the themes explored in the first two movements. Scherzinger also composed several vocal works, including his song cycle, "Songs of the Earth," which was premiered by soprano Lisa Delan and pianist Kristin Pankonin in 2010. The song cycle is a setting of poems by Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and Robert Frost, and explores the themes of nature and the environment. In addition to his work as a composer, Scherzinger was also a dedicated educator. He taught composition and theory at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and was a visiting professor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He was also a mentor to many young composers, and was known for his generosity and kindness. Tragically, Scherzinger passed away on August 26, 2016, at the age of 37. His death was a great loss to the classical music community, and his legacy as a composer and educator continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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