Role

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Composer Performer

Birth

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1980 in Erie, PA

 

Scott Wollschleger is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1980. He grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at a young age. His mother was a pianist and his father was a composer, so music was always a part of his life. Wollschleger attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied composition with David Liptak and Christopher Rouse. After graduating from Eastman, Wollschleger moved to New York City to pursue a career as a composer. He quickly became involved in the city's vibrant new music scene, collaborating with performers and ensembles such as the JACK Quartet, the Mivos Quartet, and the Wet Ink Ensemble. He also co-founded the composer collective Red Light New Music, which presented concerts of new music in unconventional spaces such as art galleries and warehouses. Wollschleger's music is characterized by its haunting beauty and its exploration of the extremes of sound and emotion. His compositions often feature unconventional instrumentation and extended techniques, such as bowing the strings of a piano or using a cello as a percussion instrument. He is also interested in the relationship between music and language, and many of his works incorporate spoken or sung text. One of Wollschleger's most well-known works is "Brontal Symmetry," a piece for string quartet that was commissioned by the Mivos Quartet in 2011. The piece is inspired by the poetry of Emily Bronte and features a haunting, otherworldly sound that is created by the quartet's use of extended techniques such as harmonics and glissandi. The piece has been performed by ensembles around the world and has been praised for its originality and emotional power. Another notable work by Wollschleger is "Soft Aberration," a piece for piano and electronics that was commissioned by pianist Karl Larson in 2014. The piece features a hypnotic, repetitive piano line that is gradually overtaken by electronic sounds that seem to come from another world. The piece has been described as "mesmerizing" and "otherworldly" and has been performed by Larson at venues such as the Bang on a Can Marathon and the MATA Festival. Wollschleger's music has been performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Lincoln Center Festival. He has received commissions from organizations such as the New York Philharmonic, the Albany Symphony, and the American Composers Orchestra. He has also been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award. In addition to his work as a composer, Wollschleger is also an active educator and advocate for new music. He has taught composition at institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley and the Manhattan School of Music, and he has served as a mentor to young composers through programs such as the American Composers Orchestra's EarShot program. Overall, Scott Wollschleger is a composer who is known for his innovative and emotionally powerful music. His works explore the extremes of sound and emotion, and he is constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in contemporary classical music. With his unique voice and his commitment to new music, he is sure to continue making an impact on the world of classical music for years to come.

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