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National Medal of Arts, Pulitzer Prize, and Grammy Award-winner William Bolcom (born May 26, 1938) is an American composer of chamber, operatic, vocal, choral, cabaret, ragtime, and symphonic music.

He joined the faculty of the University of Michigan's School of Music in 1973, was named the Ross Lee Finney Distinguished University Professor of Composition in 1994, and retired in 2008 after 35 years.  Bolcom won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1988 for 12 New Etudes for Piano, and his setting of William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience on the Naxos label won four Grammy Awards in 2005.

As a pianist Bolcom has performed and recorded his own work frequently in collaboration with his wife and musical partner, mezzo-soprano Joan Morris.  Cabaret songs, show tunes, and American popular songs of the 20th century have been their primary specialties in both concerts and recordings.  Their 25th album,  "Autumn Leaves," was released in 2015.

In 2018, nine world premieres of Bolcom works commemorated William Bolcom's 80th birthday.

Updates...

Marc-Andé Hamelin plays Bolcom's Graceful Ghost on NPR Tiny Desk Concert series 

In a performance we can only describe as exquisite, Marc-Andé Hamelin paid homage to one of Bolcom's most beloved compositions, “Graceful Ghost Rag,” in his January 2023 appearance on a Tiny Desk Concert at National Public Radio in Washington, DC. 

Tiny Desk Concerts is a video series of live concerts hosted by NPR Music at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen in Washington, D.C.

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STEINWAY & SONS releases the world premiere recording Bolcom’s “Suite of Preludes” performed by innovative pianist Jenny Lin 

Bolcom’s Suite of Preludes was given its World Premiere in October 2021 at Hudson Hall in Hudson, New York by Steinway Artist Jenny Lin. Composed during the Coronavirus lockdown, this nine-movement suite is comprised of miniatures that reveal the personal side of Bolcom - they contain elements of humor, obscure thematic quotes, jazz chords - all within the European American style for which the composer is known.

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Discography

Calendar

Previous events

Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet

Sawmill Creek Convention Center , 400 Sawmill Creek Drive West, Huron, OH 44839

The Firelands Symphony Orchestra's season opens with the full orchestra, joined by The Sinta Sax Quartet, hailed by Boston Musical Intelligencer as “a tight-knit ensemble exploding with power and virtuosity”. They will be featured in William Bolcom’s Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet.

Jun3

Graceful Ghost Rag (Roomful of Pianos)

NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA

(Postponed from 2022 due to supply chain issues) -- Over the past four years, Roomful of Pianos has become a highly anticipated event at The NAMM Show, bringing unforgettable performances for 10 pianos, 20 pianos, even 40 pianos to the show’s international audience of 110,000 music industry attendees. Graceful Ghost Rag (arr. John S. Hord) will be featured in concert by an ensemble of 30 pianists, in Lounge 88 at the Anaheim Convention Center (Anaheim, CA). Exact Date/Time/Place TBA.

William Bolcom - Violin Concerto in D

Janáčkovo divadlo , Rooseveltova 31/7, 602 00 Brno CZ

Yumi Hwang-Williams violin, the Brno Philharmonic, and conductor Dennis Russell Davies in a concert titled "From America to the Czech Republic." The program of the concert is mainly based on the repertoire that the Brno Philharmonic , under the baton of the chief conductor, will present on its tour of the United States of America, which immediately precedes this concert .

William Bolcom - Violin Concerto in D

Janáčkovo divadlo , Rooseveltova 31/7, 602 00 Brno CZ

Yumi Hwang-Williams violin, the Brno Philharmonic, and conductor Dennis Russell Davies in a concert titled "From America to the Czech Republic." The program of the concert is mainly based on the repertoire that the Brno Philharmonic , under the baton of the chief conductor, will present on its tour of the United States of America, which immediately precedes this concert .

Streaming on YouTube: The Ivory Menagerie

YouTube

Note: Streaming through 9/30/2022. On a journey through the world of music inspired by animals, pianist Hsiang Tu introduces us to the Swan, Bumblebee, Goldfish, the Serpent, and even the Black Fly! Includes Bolcom's Tabby Cat Walk, California Porcupine Rag, and The Serpent's Kiss.

William Bolcom Tribute Concert

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Detroit Film Theatre Auditorium, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202

Pro Musica Detroit presents a tribute to the music of William Bolcom. The concert will feature a quartet of the composer’s most trusted collaborators, including pianist Marc-André Hamelin, violinist Sonia Lee, cellist Jeremy Crosmer, baritone Neil Michaels and pianist John Bogdan. Also performing will be special guest pianists LUMINO and John Etsell, and clarinetist Lisa Raschiatore. Program selections include a piece from A View from the Bridge, Spring Trio: A Bouquet of Traditional Flower Rags, The Graceful Ghost Rag, plus a world premiere of a new sonata by William Bolcom.

William Bolcom and Joan Morris are invited special guests.

$15 General admission. Current photo ID and proof of full vaccination required.

Apr24

Bolcom: Piano Concerto No. 2

Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Ehrenhof 1, 40479 , Düsseldorf, Germany

New relationships and new sounds spring to life for the Mahler Chamber Orchestra debuts of conductor Elim Chan and pianist Igor Levit – plus William Bolcom's brand new Piano Concerto No. 2 – for the MCO's return to Düsseldorf's Tonhalle. William Bolcom has won the Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy Award, and studied with both Olivier Messiaen and Darius Milhaud. His output has been a continual challenge to the artificial distinction of serious and popular music, and in using music to address both the general public and informed audiences, he is well-suited for the soloist of his latest piano concerto. Igor Levit established himself early on in his career for his formidable technique, the range of his repertoire and his meaningfully constructed programmes.

Apr21

Bolcom: Piano Concerto No. 2

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Platz d. Deutschen Einheit 4, 20457 , Hamburg, Germany

New relationships and new sounds spring to life for the Mahler Chamber Orchestra debuts of conductor Elim Chan and pianist Igor Levit – plus William Bolcom's brand new Piano Concerto No. 2 – for the MCO's return to Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie. William Bolcom has won the Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy Award, and studied with both Olivier Messiaen and Darius Milhaud. His output has been a continual challenge to the artificial distinction of serious and popular music, and in using music to address both the general public and informed audiences, he is well-suited for the soloist of his latest piano concerto. Igor Levit established himself early on in his career for his formidable technique, the range of his repertoire and his meaningfully constructed programmes.

Apr20

Bolcom: Piano Concerto No. 2 (World Premiere)

Heidelberger Frühling 2022, Heidelberg, DE

New relationships and new sounds spring to life for the Mahler Chamber Orchestra debuts of conductor Elim Chan and pianist Igor Levit – plus the world premiere of William Bolcom's Piano Concerto No. 2 – at the MCO's annual residency at the Heidelberger Frühling festival. William Bolcom has won the Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy Award, and studied with both Olivier Messiaen and Darius Milhaud. His output has been a continual challenge to the artificial distinction of serious and popular music, and in using music to address both the general public and informed audiences, he is well-suited for the soloist of his latest piano concerto. Igor Levit established himself early on in his career for his formidable technique, the range of his repertoire and his meaningfully constructed programmes.

William Bolcom: Violin Concerto

Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI

Ken-David Masur, conductor; Ilana Setapen, Violin. Haydn’s Symphony No. 96, one of his famed London symphonies, earned its nickname “Miracle” when a chandelier fell during its premiere and — miracle! — killed no one. This program also includes Prokofiev’s playful Classical Symphony, composed on an idyllic farm against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution; Schoenberg’s moody “Accompaniment to a Film Scene;” and a jazz-infused violin concerto by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom, performed here by the MSO’s own Acting Concertmaster Ilana Setapen.

William Bolcom: Violin Concerto

Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI

Ken-David Masur, conductor; Ilana Setapen, Violin. Haydn’s Symphony No. 96, one of his famed London symphonies, earned its nickname “Miracle” when a chandelier fell during its premiere and — miracle! — killed no one. This program also includes Prokofiev’s playful Classical Symphony, composed on an idyllic farm against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution; Schoenberg’s moody “Accompaniment to a Film Scene;” and a jazz-infused violin concerto by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom, performed here by the MSO’s own Acting Concertmaster Ilana Setapen.

William Bolcom's music in concert at FEU, Paris

Fondation des États-Unis , 15 boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris, France, Paris, France

The Fondation des États-Unis is proud to present its first concert of FEU musicians, past and present, originally organized in honor of its 90th anniversary in 2020. This concert features a vast range of compositions of alumni and current composers in residence ranging from 1963 to present day, culminating in three new works written especially for the occasion. This is the first concert that will showcase the rich musical history of the FEU, while bringing together several generations of musicians from all over the globe. Works by Willian Bolcom include Selections from Cabaret Songs performed by Lauren Libaw, soprano, Solange Adamson, soprano and Nicky Purser, piano; Spring Trio: II. The Violet for violin, cello and piano performed by Jennifer Schiller, violin, Sarah Ghandour, cello and John Kamfonas, piano; and Étude No. 12, Hymne a L’Amour of Twelve New Études performed by Jay Gottlieb, piano. Tickets are free but reservations required; the concert will be live streamed on Facebook.

Free, streamed online via Facebook.

Nov16

Scoring the Circle - various Bolcom works

Fondation des États-Unis, 15 boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris

Scoring the Circle will include selections from Cabaret Songs - Waitin', Amor, The Actor, Can’t Sleep, Blue (Lauren Libaw, soprano, Solange Adamson, soprano and Nicky Purser, piano); Spring Trio: II. The Violet for violin, cello and piano (Jennifer Schiller, violin, Sarah Ghandour, cello and John Kamfonas, piano) and Étude No. 12, Hymne a L’Amour of Twelve New Études (Jay Gottlieb, piano).

Oct30

American Ballet Theatre - Some Assembly Required

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts - David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023

This intimate and unconventional pas de deux follows the arc of a relationship, exploring the moments of tension and companionship that make two into one. Choreography by Clark Tippet; Staged by Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner; Music by William Bolcom.


 

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