Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Contemporary

 

Eric Whitacre is a renowned American composer and conductor, known for his contributions to the world of classical music. Born on January 2, 1970, in Reno, Nevada, Whitacre showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of three. He later learned to play the trumpet and French horn, and by the time he was in high school, he had already composed his first piece of music. Whitacre attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he studied music education and composition. He later earned a Master of Music degree in composition from the Juilliard School in New York City. During his time at Juilliard, Whitacre studied under the tutelage of renowned composers such as John Corigliano and David Diamond. In 1995, Whitacre's career took off when he won the prestigious ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award for his composition "Ghost Train." This recognition helped him gain national attention and led to commissions from various orchestras and ensembles. One of Whitacre's most notable works is his choral piece "Lux Aurumque," which was composed in 2000. The piece quickly gained popularity and has since been performed by countless choirs around the world. In 2001, Whitacre founded the Eric Whitacre Singers, a professional choir made up of some of the best singers in the world. The Eric Whitacre Singers quickly gained a reputation for their exceptional performances and unique sound. The choir's repertoire includes a mix of traditional choral music and contemporary pieces, many of which were composed by Whitacre himself. The choir has performed at some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. In 2007, the Eric Whitacre Singers released their first album, "Light and Gold," which featured some of Whitacre's most popular compositions, including "Lux Aurumque" and "Sleep." The album was a critical and commercial success, earning the choir a Grammy nomination for Best Choral Performance. Since then, the Eric Whitacre Singers have released several more albums, including "Water Night" and "The Sacred Veil." The choir has also collaborated with other artists, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his work with the Eric Whitacre Singers, Whitacre has also composed music for film and television. He has worked on projects such as the soundtrack for the video game "Destiny" and the score for the animated film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits." Whitacre has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Richard Rodgers Award for his musical "Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings" and the Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance for his album "Light and Gold." He has also been named a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in London and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Despite his many accomplishments, Whitacre remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He continues to compose and conduct music, and his work continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.

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