William Bolcom

Dedication for chamber orchestra by William Bolcom was written in 2021-2022, especially for the ROCO Chamber Orchestra. The commission was the result of a meeting between Alecia Lawyer and the composer at a Great American Songbook concert, hosted by Arthur and Shelley Gottschalk. 

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.

Maki Namekawa and Dennis Russell Davies honored Bolcom in May with the program “Bill’s Garden: A Celebration of William Bolcom at 85.”

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.

William Bolcom’s recent work, written for the pianist Igor Levit, is streaming after its premiere earlier this year.