Role

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Composer

Birth

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1968

 

Gregory Wanamaker is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1968 in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Wanamaker began playing the saxophone at the age of 10 and quickly developed a passion for music. Wanamaker attended the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance. He then went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of Texas at Austin. Throughout his career, Wanamaker has composed a wide range of works for various ensembles, including orchestras, wind ensembles, chamber groups, and soloists. His music is known for its unique blend of classical and jazz influences, as well as its use of extended techniques and unconventional instrumentation. One of Wanamaker's most notable works is his saxophone concerto, "The Speed of Sound," which was commissioned by the North Carolina Symphony and premiered in 2010. The piece features a solo saxophone accompanied by a full orchestra and incorporates elements of jazz, rock, and classical music. Another notable work by Wanamaker is his wind ensemble piece, "Duo Sonata," which was commissioned by the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America and premiered in 2014. The piece features two soloists, a saxophonist and a clarinetist, and explores the interplay between the two instruments. Wanamaker has also composed several works for chamber groups, including his string quartet, "The End of Time," which was commissioned by the Del Sol String Quartet and premiered in 2012. The piece is inspired by the writings of French philosopher Henri Bergson and explores the concept of time through music. In addition to his work as a composer, Wanamaker is also a professor of music at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition and the American Composers Forum's McKnight Fellowship. Overall, Gregory Wanamaker is a highly respected and innovative composer whose work has been performed by ensembles around the world. His unique blend of classical and jazz influences, as well as his use of unconventional instrumentation and extended techniques, has made him a leading figure in contemporary classical music.

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