An accomplished composer, conductor and lecturer, Eric Whitacre has quickly become one of the most popular and performed composers of his generation. The Los Angeles Times has praised his compositions as "works of unearthly beauty and imagination, (with) electric, chilling harmonies"; while the BBC raves that "what hits you straight between the eyes is the honesty, optimism and sheer belief that passes any pretension. This is music that can actually make you smile.”
Though he had received no formal training before the age of 18, his first experiences singing in college choir changed his life, and he completed his first concert work, Go, Lovely, Rose, at the age of 21. Eric went on to the Juilliard School, earning his Master of Music degree and studying with Pulitzer Prize- and Oscar-winning composer John Corigliano.
Many of Whitacre's works have entered the standard choral and symphonic repertories and have become the subject of several recent scholarly works and doctoral dissertations. His works Water Night, Cloudburst, Sleep, Lux Aurumque and A Boy and a Girl are among the most popular choral works of the last decade, and his Ghost Train, Godzilla Eats Las Vegas, and October have achieved equal success in the symphonic wind community. To date, Whitacre's published works have received thousands of performances and have sold well over 1,000,000 copies worldwide. He has received composition awards from the Barlow International Composition Competition, the American Choral Directors Association and the American Composers Forum. In 2001, Whitacre became the youngest recipient ever awarded the coveted Raymond C. Brock commission by the American Choral Directors Association.
As a conductor, Whitacre has appeared with hundreds of professional and educational ensembles throughout the world. In the last ten years he has conducted concerts of his choral and symphonic music in Japan, Australia, China, Singapore, South America and much of Europe, as well as dozens of American universities and colleges where he regularly conducts seminars and lectures with young musicians. Over the past few years, these loyal fans and supporters have moved online, spreading Eric’s popularity to an ever-expanding worldwide audience. Upcoming commissions include works for The King’s Singers with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and an oratorio - featuring full orchestra, choir, and soloists – celebrating the opening of the new Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, TX.
His music has been featured on dozens of commercial and independent recordings. His first recording, The Music of Eric Whitacre, was hailed by The American Record Guide as one of the top ten classical albums of 1997. In 2006, a full collection of his a cappella music, Cloudburst and Other Choral Works, was released on the renowned British classical label Hyperion Records. The album quickly became an international best seller, appearing in the top ten of both Billboard’s and iTune’s Top Classical Albums charts. Two years after its debut, the critically acclaimed release continues to be a top-seller. The collection earned a 2007 Grammy nomination for Best Choral Performance.
Most recently, Whitacre has received acclaim for Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, a cutting edge musical combining trance, ambient and techno electronica with choral, cinematic, and operatic traditions. Winner of the ASCAP Harold Arlen award, this musical also gained Whitacre the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award for most promising musical theater composer. Following its sold-out run, the most recent production earned 10 nominations at the 2007 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, including one for Best World Premiere Musical.
Mr. Whitacre lives in Los Angeles with his wife, celebrated soprano Hila Plitmann, and their son.
heyy mr. whitacre ! you selected my choir , from riverview high school in riverview, florida to come & perform in your paradise lost concert at carnegie hall in june . just wanted to tell you, i look forward to learning the music & working with you. :)
I remember preforming in one of your songs in band camp years ago..Your compositions are without-doubt amazing, and your wife's voice is stunning. Allow me to shake your hand over myspace (*hand shake*). Thank you for the add :)
Eric whitacre, just want to say that you are an amazing conductor! I love your style and how you make every song literally your own, I've had the chance to sing your songs this marriage, 5 hebrew love songs, and leonardo dreams of his flying machine, and they have all separately been my favorite songs of all time! Iv allways wanted to sing under your direction, but am just satisfied with just singing your music. I am a hopefull choral conductor and I would just like to say how much of an inspiration you are to me.
Thank You-
Leonides Alvarez
VIRTUOSITY...OR EXPRESSION? Franz Liszt once declared that "Virtuosity is not an outgrowth, but an indispensable element of music"... What do you think? Drop a line on my new blog Thank you Leo
Your "Seal Lullaby" is one of the most magical pieces I've ever heard. I listen to it all the time without tiring. You need to have it recorded in a studio sometime! The only time I can listen to it is on MySpace, and I would love to carry it around on an MP3. I would totally buy it. And I think the version you have on MySpace is the best one I've heard. Your work is amazing.
October 27, 2009 will be our first choral concert of the year. We are working on a HARMONIC INTERVALS piece called, "Past Life Melodies" and will be shifting that song into last year's Korean song, "Gloria."
There's much to say about the whole concert itself. We may be a small, not so wealthy group, but we do have "professional" voices. You'll have to hear us someday.
This years top choral group may not have the same feeling as last years, and it may not be as mature and talented, but it is a family. Last year's group was phenomenal. I'm sorry you had to miss us. I can assure you that this year's group is also very great, and in time, I will learn to accept that change must happen. (I haven't fully accepted our newcomers, but know that soon, I will.)
It would be amazing if you decide to drop by during our concert, if even only for a minute to hear us. No one else but me knows about this invite for you. If you decided to visit, please, please, please make time to talk with our choral director: Ms. Debbie Lind.