Born in Seattle, WA, May 26, 1938
- William Bolcom is an American composer, pianist, and educator whose music spans from popular/ cabaret-style to more traditional classical. In his music, Bolcom advocates for eliminating the barriers separating popular styles from “serious” music.
- Bolcom began composing at the age of 11. In his early 20s, he studied composition with Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messiaen at the Paris Conservatory.
- His compositional oeuvre includes works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, solo instrument/ piano, voice, stage, and film.
- In 1988, Bolcom earned a Pulitzer Prize for his 12 New Études for piano.
- In 1973, Bolcom became a professor of composition at the University of Michigan; after retiring in 2008, he became professor emeritus.1
Sources
- The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, “William Bolcom,” Encyclopedia Britannica (2022), accessed December 30, 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Bolcom.