Russian-born Ilya Levinson graduated from the Moscow State Conservatory as a composer, where he studied composition with Alexander Pirumov and orchestration with Edison Denisov. After immigrating to the United States in1988, Levinson completed a Ph.D. in Composition at the University of Chicago where his training included instruction from Ralph Shapey, Shulamit Ran, John Eaton, and Howard Sandroff. Levinson’s catalogue includes operas, musicals, various symphonic and chamber music, film scores and original music for theatre productions. Levinson’s music has been performed in the United States and Europe by Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Sarajevo Philharmonic, Yaroslavl Symphony Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, Tononi Ensemble, Duo Montagnard, and iAN&ANi Duo among others. His "Klezmer Rhapsody," recorded by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, was released on Shanachie label in 2001, and was featured (in version for cello and piano) on canal 12 French web TV in 2009.
Levinson’s paper Kaschey in Blue: Rimsky-Korsakov – Schillinger – Gershwin connection is published by the Rimsky-Korsakov museum-flat in St. Petersburg, Russia. His music for woodwind instruments is published by Jeanné Inc.
Mr. Levinson is a composer-in-residence with American Music Festivals, and music director, arranger and pianist for the New Budapest Orpheum Society, artists-in-residence at the University of Chicago, which specializes in performing music of Jewish Cabaret. Their two CD’s Dancing on the Edge of a volcano and Jewish Cabaret in Exile are released on Cedille records label. The group tours nationally and internationally.
Ilya Levinson is Assistant Professor at the Music Department at Columbia College Chicago.
www.ilyalevinsonmuisc.com;
ilevinson@sbcglobal.net
Solstice Canyon is located in Malibu, California. I enjoyed numerous hikes there and was inspired to write this piece.
I. Noon. It's getting very hot in midday in Solstice canyon; the air is saturated with the smell of wild sage; nothing moves there; only gecko interrupt the stillness with they short and quick runs.