Joseph Schwantner

Angelfire: “Fantasy” for Amplified Violin and Orchestra

            Joseph Schwantner has been recognized as one of America’s important composers for many decades, now, and public accolades for his compositions have spanned over a half-century.  A native of Michigan, he won his first award for composition at the age of sixteen.  His first major work for orchestra, Aftertones of Infinity, garnered him a Pulitzer Prize in 1979, and other recognition includes a Kennedy Center Friedheim and Guggenheim awards, fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Grammy nomination—to name just a few. Commissions have come from some of America’s most prestigious orchestras.

New Morning for the World: “Daybreak of Freedom”

        Joseph Schwantner is one of America’s most distinguished composers, having gained recognition for his talent early in his career.   Born in Chicago, he was educated at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and at Northwestern University, having received a doctorate at the latter in 1968.  In the following years he taught at the Eastman School of Music, Julliard, and Yale.  The list of his commissioned works is long, and he has enjoyed performances of his music by some of the most distinguished musicians of our times.  He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 1979.