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James Aikman is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1972 in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Aikman began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and French horn. Aikman attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied composition with Milton Babbitt and David Diamond. He also studied with John Corigliano at the Manhattan School of Music. Aikman received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Juilliard School and his Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Aikman's compositions are known for their complexity and use of extended techniques. He often incorporates electronic elements into his works, such as live processing and computer-generated sounds. Aikman's music has been performed by numerous ensembles and orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. One of Aikman's most notable works is his Symphony No. 1, which was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic and premiered in 2007. The symphony is in four movements and features a large orchestra with percussion, harp, and piano. The work is characterized by its use of complex rhythms and harmonies, as well as its incorporation of electronic sounds. Another notable work by Aikman is his String Quartet No. 1, which was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and premiered in 2003. The quartet is in four movements and features extended techniques such as harmonics, glissandi, and pizzicato. The work is known for its use of unconventional sounds and textures, as well as its incorporation of electronic sounds. Aikman has also composed several works for solo instruments, including his Piano Sonata No. 1, which was premiered by pianist Ursula Oppens in 2001. The sonata is in three movements and features complex rhythms and harmonies, as well as the use of extended techniques such as prepared piano. In addition to his work as a composer, Aikman is also a professor of music at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. He has received numerous awards and honors for his compositions, including the Rome Prize and the Guggenheim Fellowship. Overall, James Aikman is a contemporary classical music composer known for his complex and innovative works. His compositions often incorporate electronic elements and extended techniques, and have been performed by numerous ensembles and orchestras. Aikman's Symphony No. 1 and String Quartet No. 1 are among his most notable works, and he has also composed several works for solo instruments.

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