In this age of virtual performances, the saxophone sextet The Moanin' Frogs took a unique approach to filming an elegant, ghostly version of Bolcom's Graceful Ghost.
Read moreWelcome
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...
New recording released! "Album for the Young" with fellow pianist Logan Skelton
Composer-pianist William Bolcom fulfills a lifetime passion for Schumann's Album for the Young, pieces designed for young children.
Read more2021 Begins with American Composers Orchestra Composer-to-Composer Talk
William Bolcom & Gabriela Lena Frank will discuss Bolcom's Symphony No. 9 online on Wednesday, January 13 - live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Read moreIris named after "Graceful Ghost"
Horticulturist Robert Hollingworth wrote us to share a photo of the Graceful Ghost Iris, which he hybridized and named after Bolcom’s beloved ragtime piece.
Read moreUniversity of Arizona MUSIC + FESTIVAL 2020 presents works of Gershwin, Reich, Bolcom
From October 10-12 the 2020 Music+Festival: George Gershwin, Steve Reich, and William Bolcom will present the lives and music of these three composers within a rich and broad humanistic framework. All events will be online, free admission and open to the public.
Read moreDiscography
Calendar
Previous events
World Premiere: Three Intermezzi for Organ
Saint John's Abbey, 2900 Abbey Plaza, Collegeville, MN 56321
Solemn Blessing of the Expanded Holtkamp-Pasi Abbey Pipe Organ featuring the world premiere of an organ piece by William Bolcolm, “Three Intermezzi for Organ,” commissioned by Saint John’s Abbey through the generous donation from Jeff (SJU ’87) and Jamie Barnett; played by Fr. Robert Koopmann, OSB.
Free; event may be streamed online
William Bolcom and Mark Campbell: Lucrezia
Crowne Plaza of Baton Rouge, 4728 Constitution Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Join us for cocktails, then enjoy a dinner theatre performance of William Bolcom and Mark Campbell’s one hour opera, Lucrezia! Featuring Metropolitan Opera National Council winners, and real life couple! Ashley Dixon and Carlos Santelli in the leading roles of this cabaret style opera in English.
This new series will feature major American composers in conversation with each other about their work and leading a creative life. The intergenerational discussions will begin by exploring a single work with one composer interviewing the other. Attendees will gain insight to each work’s genesis, sound, influence on the American orchestral canon, and be invited to ask questions of the artists. Events will be live-streamed and available for on-demand viewing for seven days following the live event. 5 pm EST.
Bolcom's Lucrezia at Glenn Gould School Fall Opera
Mazzoleni Concert Hall, The Royal Conservatory, 273 Bloor St W, , Toronto, ON M5S 1V6
Students from The Glenn Gould School’s vocal program perform two one-act operas, led by Music Director Peter Tiefenbach. Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins is the satirical story of two sisters, Anna I, a practical and cynical singer, and Anna II, an emotional and impulsive but mysterious dancer. Lucrezia, a chamber opera by composer William Bolcom and librettist Mark Campbell, is a zarzuela riff on Machiavelli’s La Mandragola, where the comedy’s heroine Lucrezia, an intelligent seductress, takes charge of her own destiny. Reduced Capacity and Special Ticketing Structure for Safe Physical Distancing.
William Bolcom Presentation: Fred Fox School of Music Visiting Composers Series
Zoom (check music.arizona.edu for link)
University of Arizona MUSIC + FESTIVAL 2020 presents Fred Fox School of Music Visiting Composers Series: William Bolcom, presenter. All festival events are free and open to the public. Go to https://music.arizona.edu/news/music-festival-2020-gershwin-reich-bolcom/ for more information.
Songs of Gershwin and Bolcom
Live Stream from University of Arizona Crowder Hall (check music.arizona.edu for link)
University of Arizona MUSIC + FESTIVAL 2020 presents Songs of Gershwin and Bolcom – Jeremy Huw Willliams, baritione; Paula Fan, piano. All festival events are free and open to the public. Go to https://music.arizona.edu/news/music-festival-2020-gershwin-reich-bolcom/ for more information. NOTE - Events are Pacific Daylight Time.
Piano Music of Gershwin, Reich and Bolcom
Live Stream from University of Arizona Crowder Hall (check music.arizona.edu for link)
University of Arizona MUSIC + FESTIVAL 2020 presents Piano Music of Gershwin, Reich and Bolcom with Michael Dauphinais; Daniel Linder, piano. All festival events are free and open to the public. Go to https://music.arizona.edu/news/music-festival-2020-gershwin-reich-bolcom/ for more information. NOTE - Events are Pacific Daylight Time.
Chamber Music and Song of Gershwin, Reich and Bolcom
Live Stream from University of Arizona Crowder Hall (check music.arizona.edu for link)
University of Arizona MUSIC + FESTIVAL 2020 presents Chamber Music and Song of Gershwin, Reich and Bolcom with Kristin Dauphinais, mezzo-soprano; Paula Fan, piano; Morris Palter, percussion; Timothy Kantor, violin; Elena Miraztchiyska, piano. All festival events are free and open to the public. Go to https://music.arizona.edu/news/music-festival-2020-gershwin-reich-bolcom/ for more information. NOTE - Events are Pacific Daylight Time.
Symposium: The Music of George Gershwin, Steve Reich and William Bolcom
— —
Zoom (check music.arizona.edu for link)
University of Arizona MUSIC + FESTIVAL 2020 presents a symposium with William Bolcom; Russell Hartenberger; Joseph Horowitz, presenters. All festival events are free and open to the public. Go to https://music.arizona.edu/news/music-festival-2020-gershwin-reich-bolcom/ for more information. NOTE - Events are Pacific Daylight Time.
Sonata for Two Pianos in One Movement; Kate Lee and Ran Dank, pianists
Bolcom (and others): Yet Another Set of Variations (on a Theme of Paganini)
Orchestre National de Lyon, Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Bolcom (and others): Yet Another Set of Variations (on a Theme of Paganini)
Orchestre National de Lyon, Leonard Slatkin, Conductor
Bolcom (and others): Yet Another Set of Variations (on a Theme of Paganini)
Schermerhorn Symphony Center, One Symphony Place , Nashville, TN 37201
Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Bolcom (and others): Yet Another Set of Variations (on a Theme of Paganini)
Schermerhorn Symphony Center, One Symphony Place , Nashville, TN 37201
Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Bolcom (and others): Yet Another Set of Variations (on a Theme of Paganini)
Schermerhorn Symphony Center, One Symphony Place , Nashville, TN 37201
Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Associate Conductor Yaniv Dinur leads the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in this concert, which includes a jazz-infused violin concerto by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom, performed here by the MSO’s own Ilana Setapen.
Associate Conductor Yaniv Dinur leads the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in this concert, which includes a jazz-infused violin concerto by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom, performed here by the MSO’s own Ilana Setapen.
Bolcom (various works): 90th Anniversary of the Fondation des Ètats-Unis, Paris
Concert to Celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Fondation des Ètats-Unis on May 5th in the Grand Salon, Paris. The recital includes selections from: Cabaret Songs (Lauren Libaw, soprano, Nicky Purser, piano); Spring Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano (Jennifer Schiller, violin, Sarah Ghandour, cello, John Kamfonas, piano); Twelve New Études (Jay Gotleib, piano) and Cello Suite No. 1 in C Minor (Hilary Metzger, cello).
Bolcom: Symphony No. 9
Stude Hall, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Houston Youth Symphony; Michael Webster, conductor
William Bolcom: Concerto in D for Violin and Orchestra
St. Louis Symphony; Cristian Măcelaru, conductor; David Halen, violin. This performance will be broadcast live on radio.