Leslie Bassett is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 composer

Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

 of classical music, and the University of Michigan

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...

’s Albert A. Stanley Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Composition. Bassett received the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for Music

Pulitzer Prize for Music

The Pulitzer Prize for Music was first awarded in 1943. Joseph Pulitzer did not call for such a prize in his will, but had arranged for a music scholarship to be awarded each year...

 for his Variations for Orchestra.

He studied composition with Homer Keller

Homer Keller

Homer T. Keller was an American composer of contemporary classical music.He graduated from Oxnard Union High School in Oxnard, California in 1933, after which he attended the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Howard Hanson, obtaining B.M. and M.M. degrees...

 at the University of Michigan

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...

.

He was a member of the Gamma Pi chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...

 at California State University-Fresno, 1942.

His notable students include John Anthony Lennon

John Anthony Lennon

John Anthony Lennon is an American composer of contemporary classical music based in Georgia. He was raised in Mill Valley, California, and is a professor of composition at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia...

, Andy Brick

Andy Brick

Andy Brick is an American composer, conductor and symphonist.A native of suburban Chicago, Brick studied composition under Leslie Bassett at the University of Michigan. He then completed graduate studies in composition at the Mannes School of Music in Manhattan. In 1990 he arranged music for Sesame...

, John Burke

John Burke (composer)

John Joseph Burke is a Canadian composer and music educator. As a composer he has written mainly works for chamber ensembles, and his music displays an acute sensitivity to instrumental balance and timbre...

, Evan Chambers

Evan Chambers

Evan Chambers is a composer, traditional Irish fiddler, and Professor of Composition at the University of Michigan. He received a Doctorate in music composition from the University of Michigan...

, Robin Cox, Gabriela Lena Frank

Gabriela Lena Frank

Gabriela Lena Frank is an American composer of contemporary classical music and pianist.- Biography :...

, Frank Ticheli, Mark Kilstofte

Mark Kilstofte

Mark Kilstofte is an American composer, and professor at Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina, reared in Pueblo, Colorado.-Life:...

, and Richard Toensing

Richard Toensing

Richard Toensing is an American composer and music educator. He studied composition at St. Olaf College and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1967...

.

External links

• Leslie Bassett official site
• Leslie Bassett page
• Leslie Bassett's complete list of classical compositions

Interviews

• Interview by Bruce Duffie, June 11, 1987