Gregory T.S. Walker facts for kids
Gregory T.S. Walker (born October 19, 1961) is an American composer, violinist, and guitarist. He creates and plays music. In 2000, he received a special award called the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has also performed with many big orchestras around the world.
About Gregory Walker
Gregory is the son of Helen Walker-Hill, who studied music history. His father, George Walker, was a famous composer who won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize. Gregory learned to play the violin from Yuval Yaron. He also went to college, earning advanced degrees. He got a master's degree in computer music from the University of California at San Diego. Later, he earned a doctorate in musical composition from the University of Colorado.
Today, Walker is a professor at the University of Colorado Denver. He is a talented composer and violinist. In 1987, he performed his "Concerto No. 1 for Orchestra and Synthesizer." He played it with the Oakland Sinfonietta. He also earned another master's degree in composition from Mills College that year.
Musical Achievements
In 1993, the Colorado Symphony asked Walker to write a new piece of music. He created Dream N. the Hood. This piece is known as the first "rap symphony." It combines classical music with rap.
Walker has performed as a solo artist with many famous groups. These include the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony. He has also played in places like Havana, Cuba, and Poland. He performed at the Library of Congress and in Ireland. For 25 years, Walker was the lead violinist, or concertmaster, for the Boulder Philharmonic.
Multimedia Art and Festivals
Gregory Walker also creates multimedia performances. These shows combine music with other art forms. His work has been shown at big events like the Sonic Circuits International Festival. He was featured on the cover of International Musician magazine in April 2007. Currently, he is the Artistic Director of the Colorado NeXt Music Festival.
Musical Works
Here are some of the musical pieces Gregory T.S. Walker has composed:
- Kawanakajima for Video Guitar and Chamber Orchestra (2016)
- [glitch] for CyberGuitar and Symphony Orchestra (2013)
- La La, and the Life Goes On for Violin and Piano (2010)
- Looking for the Perfect Planet for Amplified Chorus and Video Sampler (2009)
- danC for Chamber Orchestra (2008)
- The Passion According to St. Toscanini for Quadraphonic Chorus and Orchestra (2003)
- Dreamcatcher for Electronic Violin and Orchestra (2003)
- 1+1+1=3 for Orchestra (2003)
- Magic Man for Amplified Chamber Orchestra (2002)
- mysterium conceptionis immaculatae for Orchestra (2000)
- Bad Rap for Electric Violin and Chamber Orchestra (Lauren Keiser Music Publishing, 1994)
- Like 'Dis for String Quartet/String Orchestra (1987)
- Dream N. the Hood for Rapper and Orchestra (1993)
