Distinguished composer Samuel Adler visited the Interlochen campus this week where he worked with students and ensembles. He also shared his thoughts about music and the arts with all Academy students at a gathering in Corson Auditorium. In a candid one-hour conversation with Jeffrey Kimpton, President of Interlochen Center for the Arts and Michael Albaugh, the director of music programs, they discussed the past, present and future of music composition. Topics ranged from the effects of technology of the process of writing music and the influences of pop-culture and globalization on classical music. Adler also shared part of his own life story which included growing up Jewish in Nazi Germany before his family came to the United States in 1939. 

Adler is Professor-emeritus at the Eastman School of Music where he taught from 1966 to 1995 and served as chair of the composition department from 1974 until his retirement. His teachers included many of this century’s major musical influences: Herbert Fromm, Walter Piston, Randall Thompson, Paul Hindemith, and Aaron Copland and in conducting, Serge Koussevitzky. In return, he has been an influential teacher and mentor to a new generation of composers. 

He has created over 400 published works, including 5 operas, 6 symphonies, 12 concerti, 8 string quartets, 4 oratorios, many other orchestral, band, chamber, choral works, and songs, which have been performed all over the world. He is also the author of several music textbooks.   

For his full biography visit www.samadler.com.