Aaron Copland

Aaron Copland (November 14, 1900 – December 2, 1990) was an American composer who forged a distinctive musical identity rooted in American themes and expressed through a modern, accessible style. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Copland's early musical education began with piano lessons from his sister. By age 15, he had committed to a career in composition, initially pursuing harmony through a correspondence course.

In 1921, Copland attended the newly established American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, where he encountered Nadia Boulanger, a pivotal teacher who profoundly influenced a generation of American musicians. He remained in Paris for three years, becoming Boulanger's first American composition student. Upon returning to New York, he received a commission from Boulanger to compose an organ concerto for her American performances. While working as a pianist in a hotel trio, Copland completed the Symphony for Organ and Orchestra, which premiered at Carnegie Hall with Walter Damrosch conducting.