Bruce Wolosoff
Encyclopedia
Bruce Wolosoff is an American classical composer, pianist, and educator.
Wolosoff was educated at Bard College
and the New England Conservatory in Boston
. It was at the New England Conservatory that he met jazz composer-pianist Jaki Byard
, an artist who was to exert an enormous influence on Wolosoff’s musical development. After graduating from the conservatory, Wolosoff moved back to New York
and began his career as a virtuoso pianist and one of the top freelance pianists in New York City
in the 1980s. His debut recital was reviewed by distinguished music critic Tim Page
, then writing for the NY Times, who wrote that “Mr. Wolosoff is an artist with ideas. He combines keen musical insight with a prismatic sense of tonal color”. He premiered many new works which were written for him, including works by Daron Hagen
, Richard Danielpour
, and Charlie Banacos
. A highly regarded solo piano recording of works by Ferruccio Busoni
was released by Music & Arts
Records in 1986. Wolosoff organized an 80th birthday tribute to Olivier Messiaen
at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall
in 1988. It was soon after this that he abandoned public performance for many years in order to devote himself more fully to composition.
“Bruce Wolosoff integrates romantic, modern classical, jazz, and blues music
together into an authentic American voice, and he is a composer I want to hear more
of. “ wrote the East Hampton Star.
Wolosoff has written for, among others, The Columbus Symphony, The Minnesota Ballet
, recorder virtuoso Michala Petri
, oboist Rudolph Vrbsky, violinist Chas Wetherbee, The Carpe Diem String Quartet
, The Lark Quartet, and the 21st Century Consort in Washington, who have commissioned numerous works from the composer under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution
. Other groups to perform his works include the NY Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Alan R. Kay, The Da Capo Chamber Players
, Opus 3 Piano Trio.
“The Passions", with a set by the composer's wife painter Margaret Garrett, was commissioned by the Minnesota Ballet
.
Choreographer Ann Reinking
created a ballet for Thodos Dance Chicago based on Wolosoff’s music called “White City”
“Songs without Words (18 divertimenti for string quartet)”, composed for the Carpe Diem String Quartet
, were released on Naxos Records
.
, Wolosoff studied with composer Joan Tower
, and studied theory with Benjamin Boretz
, poetry with Robert Kelly
, and improvisation with Roswell Rudd
.
Classical piano studies with Richard Goode
, Evelyne Crochet, and German Diez (who teaches the technique of Claudio Arrau
) with whom he studied for 16 years. He also participated in master classes at the University of Indiana with Jorge Bolet
and at the Konservatorium in Luzerne with Malcom Frager.
Jazz piano, composition, and arranging with Jaki Byard
, jazz harmony with Charlie Banacos
.
Principal composition studies with Lawrence Widdoes.
.
Wolosoff was educated at Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
and the New England Conservatory in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. It was at the New England Conservatory that he met jazz composer-pianist Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard was an American jazz pianist and composer who also played trumpet and saxophone, among several other instruments. He was noteworthy for his eclectic style, incorporating everything from ragtime and stride to free jazz...
, an artist who was to exert an enormous influence on Wolosoff’s musical development. After graduating from the conservatory, Wolosoff moved back to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and began his career as a virtuoso pianist and one of the top freelance pianists in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the 1980s. His debut recital was reviewed by distinguished music critic Tim Page
Tim Page (music critic)
Tim Page is a writer, editor, music critic, producer and professor. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic for the Washington Post and also played an essential role in the revival of American author Dawn Powell.-Career:Page grew up in Storrs, Connecticut, where his father, Ellis B...
, then writing for the NY Times, who wrote that “Mr. Wolosoff is an artist with ideas. He combines keen musical insight with a prismatic sense of tonal color”. He premiered many new works which were written for him, including works by Daron Hagen
Daron Hagen
Daron Aric Hagen , is an American composer, conductor, pianist, educator, librettist, and stage director of contemporary classical music and opera.- Early life and education :...
, Richard Danielpour
Richard Danielpour
Richard Danielpour is an American composer.-Biography:Danielpour is born of Persian/Jewish descent. He studied at Oberlin College and the New England Conservatory of Music, and later at the Juilliard School of Music, where he received a DMA in composition in 1986...
, and Charlie Banacos
Charlie Banacos
Charlie Banacos was an American pianist, composer, author and educator, concentrating on jazz.Banacos created over 100 courses of study for improvisation and composition. His concepts of teaching and his courses influenced educators since the late 1950s...
. A highly regarded solo piano recording of works by Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor.-Biography:...
was released by Music & Arts
Music & Arts
Music & Arts is an American record label based in Kensington, California.Music & Arts is owned and operated by Music and Arts Programs of America, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to informal education in the arts, established in California in 1984...
Records in 1986. Wolosoff organized an 80th birthday tribute to Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall
Alice Tully Hall
Alice Tully Hall is a concert hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. It is named for Alice Tully, a New York performer and philanthropist whose donations assisted in the construction of the hall...
in 1988. It was soon after this that he abandoned public performance for many years in order to devote himself more fully to composition.
“Bruce Wolosoff integrates romantic, modern classical, jazz, and blues music
together into an authentic American voice, and he is a composer I want to hear more
of. “ wrote the East Hampton Star.
Wolosoff has written for, among others, The Columbus Symphony, The Minnesota Ballet
Minnesota Ballet
The Minnesota Ballet is a ballet company and school located in Duluth, Minnesota. Founded in 1965 by Donna Harkins and Jan Gibson as the Duluth Civic Ballet, the company has since expanded into a touring company with fourteen professional artists, who are locally based...
, recorder virtuoso Michala Petri
Michala Petri
Michala Petri is a Danish recorder player. Petri is sought after as a soloist with many noted orchestras, including the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. She has released 34 recordings, toured extensively over four continents, and has had dozens of pieces written for her...
, oboist Rudolph Vrbsky, violinist Chas Wetherbee, The Carpe Diem String Quartet
Carpe Diem String Quartet
The Carpe Diem String Quartet was founded in 2005 and is a classical string quartet based in Columbus, Ohio, in residence at Ohio Wesleyan University. The quartet's repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary chamber music...
, The Lark Quartet, and the 21st Century Consort in Washington, who have commissioned numerous works from the composer under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. Other groups to perform his works include the NY Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Alan R. Kay, The Da Capo Chamber Players
Da Capo Chamber Players
Da Capo Chamber Players is an American contemporary music "Pierrot ensemble," founded in 1970. Winners of the Naumburg Award in 1973, its founding members included composer/pianist Joan Tower, violinist Joel Lester, Dean of Mannes College of Music, and flutist Patricia Spencer...
, Opus 3 Piano Trio.
“The Passions", with a set by the composer's wife painter Margaret Garrett, was commissioned by the Minnesota Ballet
Minnesota Ballet
The Minnesota Ballet is a ballet company and school located in Duluth, Minnesota. Founded in 1965 by Donna Harkins and Jan Gibson as the Duluth Civic Ballet, the company has since expanded into a touring company with fourteen professional artists, who are locally based...
.
Choreographer Ann Reinking
Ann Reinking
Ann Reinking is an American actress, dancer, and choreographer. She has worked extensively in musical theatre, both as a dancer and choreographer, as well as appearing in film.-Biography:...
created a ballet for Thodos Dance Chicago based on Wolosoff’s music called “White City”
“Songs without Words (18 divertimenti for string quartet)”, composed for the Carpe Diem String Quartet
Carpe Diem String Quartet
The Carpe Diem String Quartet was founded in 2005 and is a classical string quartet based in Columbus, Ohio, in residence at Ohio Wesleyan University. The quartet's repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary chamber music...
, were released on Naxos Records
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
.
Education
At Bard CollegeBard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
, Wolosoff studied with composer Joan Tower
Joan Tower
Joan Tower is a Grammy-winning contemporary American composer, concert pianist and conductor. Lauded by the New Yorker as "one of the most successful woman composers of all time", her bold and energetic compositions have been performed in concert halls around the world...
, and studied theory with Benjamin Boretz
Benjamin Boretz
Benjamin Boretz is an American composer and music theorist.-Life and work:Boretz was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated with a degree in music from Brooklyn College...
, poetry with Robert Kelly
Robert Kelly
-Media:* Robert Kelker-Kelly , American soap opera actor* Robert Kelly , American standup comedian* Robert Kelly , American poet...
, and improvisation with Roswell Rudd
Roswell Rudd
Roswell Rudd is a Grammy Award-nominated American jazz trombonist and composer....
.
Classical piano studies with Richard Goode
Richard Goode
Richard Goode is an American classical pianist, especially known for his interpretations of Ludwig van Beethoven and chamber music.Goode was born in East Bronx, New York...
, Evelyne Crochet, and German Diez (who teaches the technique of Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau León was a Chilean pianist known for his interpretations of a vast repertoire spanning from the baroque to 20th-century composers, especially Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms and Debussy...
) with whom he studied for 16 years. He also participated in master classes at the University of Indiana with Jorge Bolet
Jorge Bolet
Jorge Bolet was a Cuban-born but mostly American-resident pianist and teacher.-Life:Bolet was born in Havana, and studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he himself taught from 1939 to 1942...
and at the Konservatorium in Luzerne with Malcom Frager.
Jazz piano, composition, and arranging with Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard was an American jazz pianist and composer who also played trumpet and saxophone, among several other instruments. He was noteworthy for his eclectic style, incorporating everything from ragtime and stride to free jazz...
, jazz harmony with Charlie Banacos
Charlie Banacos
Charlie Banacos was an American pianist, composer, author and educator, concentrating on jazz.Banacos created over 100 courses of study for improvisation and composition. His concepts of teaching and his courses influenced educators since the late 1950s...
.
Principal composition studies with Lawrence Widdoes.
Educator
A radically innovative music teacher who began giving lessons at age 13, Wolosoff conceived of and implemented the “Creative Orchestra” technique of teaching music in schools. All students in the ensemble, many of whom have no previous musical training, compose, conduct, and perform one another’s music. This has been done now for 7 years at the Hayground School in Bridgehampton, Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.