| Short Bio | JAMES AIKMAN (b. 1959, Indianapolis. Principal teachers: Michael Schelle, Earle Brown, Frederick Fox, Donald Erb, Harvey Sollberger and Louis Andriessen.)
Composing what has become a significant body of substantial individual musical statements, James Aikman and his work in various musical genres first came to the international stage during his graduate school days at Indiana University. Post-graduate, James Aikman earned a Fulbright in Amsterdam then a Fellowship at The University of Michigan, where he serves on the faculty.
Each new piece evokes a particular musical image, with its own distinct, emotive effect. The intentional strict limitation and control of musical materials enables stylistic unity within individual pieces. It also allows for maximizing contrast between sections of large-scale, multi-movement works. His music has variously been described as, “richly sonorous,” “fascinating,” “plaintively beautiful,” “consciously eclectic,” “exciting, inventive and fresh. “ “It was intense.”
With a distinguished catalogue of music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, voice, and electronics, composer James Aikman received his musical and academic training at Butler University, The Jacob’s School of Music of Indiana University (M.Mus., D.Mus.) and through the Royal Conservatory in Holland. Aikman’s music has been consistently awarded and honored during the past twenty-five years and has been heard at prestigious festivals and venues, including Amsterdam's Gaudeamus Musicweek, France’s Festivals International de Musique, London's Wigmore Hall, the Aspen Music Festival, the OJAI Festival in Los Angeles, Tanglewood, Merkin Hall, and Carnegie Hall. |
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