Sad passing of an American composer
mainFormer students are posing news of the death today of Leslie Bassett, a Pulitzer-winning composer and professor emeritus at the University of Michigan.
He was 93.
Californa born, Leslie won the Pulitzer in 1966 for Variations for Orchestra, premiere by the Rai orchestra in Rome. His Concerto for Orchestra, a Koussevitsky Foundation commission, was premiered by Neeme Järvi and recorded by Gerard Schwartz.
His students included Gabriela Lena Frank, Russell Peck and Kevin Malone.
Our condolences to his wife, Anita.
Interview with Leslie Bassett here.
I played his string quartet under his direction back when I was at Michigan in the mid-70s. A gentle and brilliant man.