Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1958

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Opera

 

Scott Eyerly is a contemporary American composer, librettist, and conductor who has made a significant impact on the classical music scene. Born in 1968 in New York City, Eyerly grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at a young age. He attended the Juilliard School, where he studied composition with Milton Babbitt and Roger Sessions, and later earned a Ph.D. in musicology from Columbia University. Eyerly's compositions are known for their eclectic style, blending elements of classical, jazz, and popular music. He has written works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestra, chamber groups, and vocal ensembles. One of his most notable works is the opera "The Property," which premiered in 2018 at the Hudson Hall in New York. The opera tells the story of a family's struggle to hold onto their ancestral home in the face of gentrification and urban development. Another significant work by Eyerly is "Arlington Sons," a song cycle for baritone and piano that explores the experiences of soldiers and their families during wartime. The piece was commissioned by the New York Festival of Song and premiered in 2011. Eyerly has also written several works for chorus, including "The New Colossus," which sets the text of Emma Lazarus's famous poem to music. In addition to his work as a composer, Eyerly is also a respected conductor and has led performances with a number of orchestras and ensembles. He has served as the music director of the Westchester Chamber Orchestra and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, and has conducted performances with the American Symphony Orchestra, the New York City Opera, and the New York Philharmonic. Eyerly is also a prolific writer and has written librettos for several of his own operas, as well as for works by other composers. He has also written articles and essays on music for a variety of publications, including The New York Times and Opera News. Throughout his career, Eyerly has been recognized for his contributions to the classical music world. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the ASCAP Foundation Rudolf Nissim Prize. He has also been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony and the Yaddo artist colony. Despite his many accomplishments, Eyerly remains committed to pushing the boundaries of classical music and exploring new forms and styles. He continues to compose, conduct, and write, and his work is sure to have a lasting impact on the world of classical music.

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