Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

May 11, 1938 in Cedar Rapids, IA

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Harvey Sollberger is a renowned American composer, flutist, and conductor who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on March 11, 1938, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sollberger grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Sollberger started playing the flute at the age of 12 and quickly developed a passion for music. Sollberger attended the University of Iowa, where he studied composition with Philip Bezanson and flute with William Kincaid. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1960 and went on to pursue a Master of Music degree at the University of Illinois, where he studied with Salvatore Martirano and Lejaren Hiller. During this time, Sollberger also studied flute with Marcel Moyse in Switzerland. After completing his studies, Sollberger began his career as a flutist, performing with various orchestras and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He also became a member of the New York Woodwind Quintet, one of the most renowned chamber ensembles in the world. In addition to his work as a performer, Sollberger also began to establish himself as a composer. His early works were influenced by the avant-garde movement of the 1960s, and he became known for his use of extended techniques and unconventional instrumentation. Some of his most notable works from this period include "The Eye Altering," "The Sleep of Reason," and "The Gardens of Earthly Delights." Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Sollberger continued to compose and perform, and his work began to receive critical acclaim. In 1979, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which allowed him to travel to Europe and study with the renowned composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. He also received numerous commissions from major orchestras and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Kronos Quartet. One of Sollberger's most significant achievements as a composer came in 1984 when he was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic to write a piece for their 150th anniversary. The resulting work, "The Glass Bead Game," was a massive success and was later recorded by the Philharmonic under the direction of Zubin Mehta. In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Sollberger also became a respected conductor. He served as the music director of the Contemporary Chamber Players at the University of Chicago from 1968 to 1971 and later became the conductor of the New York New Music Ensemble, a group he co-founded in 1975. Throughout his career, Sollberger has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In addition to the Guggenheim Fellowship, he has been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Rockefeller Foundation. He has also been recognized by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, and the American Music Center. Today, Sollberger continues to compose, perform, and conduct, and his work remains an important part of the contemporary classical music canon. His contributions to the world of music have been significant, and his innovative approach to composition and performance has inspired countless musicians and composers around the world.

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