Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

1957

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Rand Steiger is a renowned American composer and conductor, known for his contributions to contemporary classical music. Born on August 16, 1957, in Newark, New Jersey, Steiger grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a classical pianist. Steiger started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and guitar. Steiger attended the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, California, where he studied composition with Morton Subotnick and James Tenney. He also studied conducting with Lukas Foss and Michael Tilson Thomas. After graduating from CalArts in 1982, Steiger moved to New York City, where he worked as a freelance composer and conductor. In 1986, Steiger was appointed the music director of the California EAR Unit, a contemporary music ensemble based in Los Angeles. During his tenure, he commissioned and premiered works by many prominent composers, including John Adams, Steve Reich, and György Ligeti. Steiger also conducted the EAR Unit in performances at major festivals and venues around the world, including the Salzburg Festival, the Berliner Festspiele, and the Lincoln Center Festival. In addition to his work with the EAR Unit, Steiger has also conducted many other contemporary music ensembles, including the Ensemble Modern, the London Sinfonietta, and the New World Symphony. He has also conducted orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic. As a composer, Steiger has received numerous awards and commissions. In 1995, he was awarded the Rome Prize, which allowed him to spend a year at the American Academy in Rome. He has also received commissions from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, and the Kronos Quartet, among others. Steiger's music is known for its complex rhythms, intricate textures, and use of electronics. He often incorporates live electronics into his compositions, using computers and other electronic devices to manipulate and transform the sounds of acoustic instruments. His works have been performed at major festivals and venues around the world, including the Venice Biennale, the Holland Festival, and the Tanglewood Music Festival. One of Steiger's most notable works is his 2001 composition "Ecosphere," which was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The piece features a large orchestra, including a percussion section that includes a variety of unusual instruments, such as a waterphone and a lion's roar. The piece also incorporates live electronics, with the sounds of the orchestra being processed and transformed in real-time by a computer. Another notable work by Steiger is his 2010 composition "A Menacing Plume," which was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic. The piece features a large orchestra, including a section of eight horns, and incorporates live electronics. The piece was inspired by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland in 2010, and its title refers to the plume of ash and smoke that was emitted by the volcano. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Steiger is also a professor of music at the University of California, San Diego. He has taught at UCSD since 1997 and has mentored many young composers who have gone on to successful careers in contemporary classical music. Overall, Rand Steiger is a highly respected figure in the world of contemporary classical music.

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