The Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience at the Herb Alpert School of Music celebrates the 95th birthday of Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer and pianist Yehudi Wyner with a concert of his chamber music performed by UCLA students and graduates. The selections were chosen by the Lowell Milken Center’s Neal Stulberg, UCLA Professor and Director of Orchestral Studies.
Awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for his Piano Concerto, “Chiavi in mano,” YEHUDI WYNER is one of America’s most distinguished musicians. His large body of work, including both “cosmopolitan” and Jewish-inflected music, encompasses all musical genres, over 100 works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, solo voice, solo instruments, piano, chorus, and music for the theater, as well as liturgical services for worship. His recording The Mirror on Naxos won a 2005 Grammy, his Piano Concerto, “Chiavi in Mano,” on Bridge Records was nominated for a 2009 Grammy, and his Horn Trio (1997) was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
Yehudi Wyner has also had an active career as a solo pianist, chamber musician collaborating with notable vocal and instrumental colleagues, teacher, director of two opera companies, and conductor of numerous chamber and vocal ensembles in a wide range of repertory. Keyboard artist of the Bach Aria Group since 1968, he has played and conducted many of the Bach cantatas, concertos, and motets.
Born in Western Canada, Yehudi Wyner grew up in New York City. He came into a musical family, his father is Lazar Weiner, renowned for the Yiddish art song genre, and was trained early as pianist and composer. After graduating from the Juilliard School with a diploma in piano, Yehudi Wyner went on to study at Yale and Harvard universities with composers Paul Hindemith, Richard Donovan, and Walter Piston. He is married to conductor and former soprano Susan Davenny Wyner.
“Yehudi Wyner finds an affirmative view of the world through a critical acceptance of life’s realities, and this becomes an entirely genuine and edifying part of his music. He writes music because he has something inside him to communicate.” New York Arts Magazine
In addition to the concert, Wyner will spend a week of residency at the school in coaching sessions for student composers and chamber music, as well as preparation for a student undergraduate concert.
“In music and in life, we do well to honor our elders,” notes Stulberg. “ In presenting this and similar residency programs, the Milken Center aims not only to preserve the heritage of music of American Jewish experience, but to renew its energy, vibrancy and impact for future generations.”