Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

1956 in Frankfurt, Germany

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

Steven Mackey is a renowned American composer and guitarist, born on February 14, 1956, in Frankfurt, Germany. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. Mackey started playing the guitar at the age of seven and was soon drawn to rock music. However, he later discovered classical music and became interested in composing. Mackey received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis, where he studied with composer Peter Seeger. He then went on to earn his Master of Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Brandeis University, where he studied with composer Mario Davidovsky. Mackey's early works were heavily influenced by rock music, and he often incorporated electric guitar into his compositions. His breakthrough piece was "Physical Property," a concerto for electric guitar and orchestra, which was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1986. The piece showcased Mackey's unique style, which blended elements of rock, jazz, and classical music. Throughout his career, Mackey has composed works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and soloists. He has also collaborated with a number of prominent musicians, including the Kronos Quartet, the Brentano Quartet, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. One of Mackey's most notable works is "Tuck and Roll," a concerto for electric guitar and orchestra that was premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra in 2003. The piece was inspired by Mackey's love of cars and features a driving rhythm and virtuosic guitar solos. Another highlight of Mackey's career is his opera "Ravenshead," which was premiered by the Santa Fe Opera in 2011. The opera tells the story of a man who is haunted by the memory of his father and features a libretto by poet Rinde Eckert. Mackey has also composed a number of works for the theater, including "Dreamhouse," a multimedia work that was premiered by the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2000. The piece combines live music, video projections, and spoken word to explore the concept of the American Dream. In addition to his work as a composer, Mackey is also an accomplished guitarist and has performed with a number of rock and jazz bands. He has recorded several albums of his own music, including "Indigenous Instruments" and "Heavy Light." Mackey has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance in 2012 for his album "Lonely Motel: Music from Slide." He has also been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Rome Prize, and a Kennedy Center Friedheim Award. Today, Mackey is a professor of music at Princeton University, where he teaches composition and directs the school's music program. He continues to compose new works and collaborate with musicians from around the world, cementing his place as one of the most innovative and influential composers of his generation.

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