Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1933 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

David Ellis was a renowned American composer of classical music, known for his unique style and innovative approach to composition. Born on May 29, 1933, in Los Angeles, California, Ellis grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist, so it was only natural that he developed an interest in music at a young age. Ellis began his musical education at the age of six, studying piano with his mother. He later took up the violin and studied with his father. By the time he was a teenager, Ellis was already composing his own music and performing in local orchestras. After graduating from high school, Ellis attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he studied composition with Roy Harris and Lukas Foss. He also studied conducting with Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein. In 1956, Ellis received his Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA and went on to earn his Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1958. While at USC, he studied composition with Halsey Stevens and Ingolf Dahl. Ellis began his professional career as a composer in the early 1960s, and his music quickly gained recognition for its originality and complexity. His early works, such as "String Quartet No. 1" and "Symphony No. 1," were characterized by their use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies. In the 1970s, Ellis began to incorporate electronic music into his compositions, using synthesizers and other electronic instruments to create new sounds and textures. His works from this period, such as "Electronic Study No. 1" and "Electronic Study No. 2," were groundbreaking in their use of technology and helped to establish Ellis as a leading figure in the field of electronic music. Throughout his career, Ellis composed music for a wide range of ensembles and genres, including orchestral works, chamber music, choral music, and electronic music. Some of his most notable works include "Symphony No. 2," "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra," "String Quartet No. 2," and "Electronic Study No. 3." In addition to his work as a composer, Ellis was also a respected educator and mentor. He taught composition and electronic music at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) from 1968 until his retirement in 1998. During his tenure at UCSD, he mentored a number of young composers who went on to achieve great success in their own careers. Ellis received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Arts grant. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. David Ellis passed away on March 7, 2019, at the age of 85. His legacy as a composer and educator continues to inspire new generations of musicians and composers, and his contributions to the field of classical music will be remembered for years to come.

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