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.
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.
Read moreMaki Namekawa and Dennis Russell Davies honored Bolcom in May with the program “Bill’s Garden: A Celebration of William Bolcom at 85.”
Read moreBolcom’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.
Read moreWilliam Bolcom’s recent work, written for the pianist Igor Levit, is streaming after its premiere earlier this year.
Read moreNew recording from the Fischer Duo celebrates the piano-cello group’s 50 years of performances together.
Read more
Stephen Farr, organ; Thursday Lunchtime Concerts, Organ Series, Americana ‘18
Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA
Jacob Adams, viola; Angela Drăghicescu, piano; Elias Goldstein, viola; Dennis Parker, cello; Linda Tsatsanis, soprano; Yung-chiao Wei, double bass
University of Central Arkansas Wind Ensemble, Joseph Alessi, trombone
Lucrezia (Bolcom/Campbell) @ Western Washington University Apr 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Description The 50 minute romp is a zarzuela riff on Machiavelli’s story “La Mandragola”, in which Lucrezia, an intelligent seductress, takes charge of her own needs and tricks her suitors into not only giving her pleasure, but also their money. A game of seduction and love, riddled with humor and coy femininity, “Lucrezia” features the iconic art song style of Bolcom (“McTeague”, “A View from the Bridge” and “A Wedding”), with a pun-laced libretto by Mark Campbell.
Stage Direction: Heather Dudenbostel
Lucrezia (Bolcom/Campbell) @ Western Washington University Apr 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Description The 50 minute romp is a zarzuela riff on Machiavelli’s story “La Mandragola”, in which Lucrezia, an intelligent seductress, takes charge of her own needs and tricks her suitors into not only giving her pleasure, but also their money. A game of seduction and love, riddled with humor and coy femininity, “Lucrezia” features the iconic art song style of Bolcom (“McTeague”, “A View from the Bridge” and “A Wedding”), with a pun-laced libretto by Mark Campbell.
Stage Direction: Heather Dudenbostel
Cook Recital Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Joelle Lamarre, soprano; Sheryl Lott, piano
Lucrezia (Bolcom/Campbell) @ Western Washington University Apr 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Description The 50 minute romp is a zarzuela riff on Machiavelli’s story “La Mandragola”, in which Lucrezia, an intelligent seductress, takes charge of her own needs and tricks her suitors into not only giving her pleasure, but also their money. A game of seduction and love, riddled with humor and coy femininity, “Lucrezia” features the iconic art song style of Bolcom (“McTeague”, “A View from the Bridge” and “A Wedding”), with a pun-laced libretto by Mark Campbell.
Stage Direction: Heather Dudenbostel
Lucrezia (Bolcom/Campbell) @ Western Washington University Apr 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Description The 50 minute romp is a zarzuela riff on Machiavelli’s story “La Mandragola”, in which Lucrezia, an intelligent seductress, takes charge of her own needs and tricks her suitors into not only giving her pleasure, but also their money. A game of seduction and love, riddled with humor and coy femininity, “Lucrezia” features the iconic art song style of Bolcom (“McTeague”, “A View from the Bridge” and “A Wedding”), with a pun-laced libretto by Mark Campbell.
Stage Direction: Heather Dudenbostel
University of Connecticut von der Mehden Recital Hall, 875 Coventry Road, Storrs, CT 06269
2018 Piano Project: Sour Flowers & Enchanted Gardens: The UConn piano studio presents works for solo piano and two pianos by living American composers. The program includes composer Richard Wilson’s Sour Flowers, a piano cycle in the form of a fifteenth-century herbal guidebook, selections from Richard Danielpour’s two books of preludes titled The Enchanted Garden, as well as William Bolcom’s The Garden of Eden – a cycle of rags for two pianos.
Concert Suite [with Tim McAllister, saxophone]; Univ. of Mich. Concert Band; Courtney Snyder, conductor
Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan , 825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI
Univ. of Mich. Symphony Band; Michael Haithcock, conductor
Illinois State University, Normal, Ill
Soloist: Paul Nolen, Conductor: Anthony Marinello, Illinois State University Wind Ensemble
Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan , 825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI
Univ. of Mich. Symphony Band; Michael Haithcock, conductor
Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano; A setting of the famous poem by Lewis Carroll, composed especially for Ms. Cooke.
Regional Band Conference: Graceful Ghost Rag; Univ. of Mich. Concert Band; Courtney Snyder, conductor
Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano - A setting of the famous poem by Lewis Carroll, composed especially for Ms. Cooke.
Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan , 825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI
Graceful Ghost Rag -- Univ. of Mich. Concert Band; Courtney Snyder, conductor
Univ. of Mich. Symphony Band; Michael Haithcock, conductor
