Role

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Composer

Period

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Contemporary

Genre

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Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Vocal

 

Anne Weesner is a contemporary American composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on October 17, 1949, in Iowa City, Iowa, Weesner grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a composer and her mother was a pianist, which exposed her to music from a young age. She began playing the piano at the age of five and later learned to play the violin and viola. Weesner attended the University of Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition in 1971. She then went on to study at the Yale School of Music, where she earned a Master of Music degree in composition in 1973. While at Yale, she studied with composers Jacob Druckman and Martin Bresnick, who had a significant influence on her musical style. After completing her studies, Weesner began her career as a composer, and her works have been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles around the world. Her music is known for its emotional depth and expressive qualities, and she often draws inspiration from literature and poetry. One of Weesner's most notable works is her opera, "The Place Where You Started," which premiered in 2014 at the San Francisco Opera. The opera tells the story of a woman who returns to her hometown after many years away and confronts the ghosts of her past. The music is haunting and evocative, and the opera has been praised for its powerful storytelling. Another significant work by Weesner is her "Symphony No. 2," which was commissioned by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and premiered in 2003. The symphony is a tribute to the victims of the September 11th attacks and is a deeply emotional work that captures the grief and sadness of that tragic event. Weesner has also composed numerous chamber works, including "The Space Between," a piece for string quartet that was commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The work is inspired by the poetry of E.E. Cummings and explores the themes of love and loss. In addition to her work as a composer, Weesner has also been a dedicated teacher and mentor to young musicians. She has taught at several universities, including the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Berkeley, and has served as a guest lecturer and composer-in-residence at numerous institutions around the world. Throughout her career, Weesner has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of classical music. She was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1995 and has received commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, and the Fromm Music Foundation, among others. In conclusion, Anne Weesner is a highly respected composer whose works have made a significant impact on the world of classical music. Her music is known for its emotional depth and expressive qualities, and she has been praised for her ability to capture the essence of human experience through her compositions. As a teacher and mentor, she has inspired countless young musicians and helped to shape the future of classical music.

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