Aaron Jay Kernis (born January 15, 1960) is one of the most highly-honored contemporary composers. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied at the Manhattan School of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory, and Yale University (under John Adams, Jacob Druckman, Morton Subotnick, and Charles Wuorinen). January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... In the broadest sense, contemporary music is any music being written in the present day. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Philadelphia is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq. ... Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music is one of Americas leading music conservatories located in New York City that offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition. ... San Francisco Conservatory of Music, founded in 1917, is a music school, with enrollment of about collegiate 300 students. ... Yale redirects here. ... John Coolidge Adams (born February 15, 1947) is an American composer, with strong roots in minimalism. ... Jacob Druckman (June 26, 1928 - May 24, 1996) was an American composer born in Philadelphia. ... Morton Subotnick (born 1933) is an American composer of minimal electronic music, best known for his Silver Apples of the Moon, the first electronic work commissioned by a record company, Nonesuch, and composed on the Buchla modular synthesizer which he helped to design. ... Charles Wuorinen (born June 9, 1938 in New York City) is an American composer. ...

Notable works include the New Era Dance, his second string quartet musica instrumentalis (which won the 1998 Pulitzer prize), Colored Field for English horn and orchestra, and Symphony in Waves. The resident string quartet of the Library of Congress in 1963 A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string instruments—usually two violins, a viola and cello—or a piece written to be performed by such a group. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The gold medal awarded for Public Service in Journalism The Pulitzer Prize is an American award regarded as the highest honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musical compositions. ... Cor anglais The cor anglais or English horn is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. ... The Boston Pops orchestra performing on the Charles River Esplanade in Boston, Massachusetts. ...

He began his musical career studying the violin and then piano before deciding at age 13 to take up composition; this influence can be seen in his frequent and skillful use of strings in orchestral works and as solo instruments. His use of instrumental color in general is notable, as is his integration of a variety of musical, literary, and social influences into his work. Kernis is an active composer in high demand by such groups as the New York Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony; he currently also serves as New Music Advisor for the Minnesota Orchestra. A violin The violin is a bowed stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a perfect fifth apart. ... A baby grand piano, with the lid up. ... The New York Philharmonic is the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States. ... Logo. ... The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra. ...

External links

• Schirmer Publishing biography of Kernis
• Minnesota Orchestra artist page

Listening

• Aaron Jay Kernis interview from American Mavericks site