William Schimmel
Encyclopedia
William Schimmel is one of the principal architects in the resurgence of the accordion
, and the philosophy of "Musical Reality" (composition with pre-existing music). He holds Bachelor of Music
, Master of Science
and Doctor of Musical Arts
degrees in composition from the Juilliard School
, along with a diploma from the Neupauer Conservatory of Music in performance/composition. He performs music in many genres, has commissioned and premiered hundreds of new works, has written a number of books and articles and has made numerous recordings and videos. His music has been featured in a number of films and television shows.
He is known as an authority of the music of Kurt Weill and has recorded all of Weill's music which includes the accordion.
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, and the philosophy of "Musical Reality" (composition with pre-existing music). He holds Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
, Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
and Doctor of Musical Arts
Doctor of Musical Arts
The Doctor of Musical Arts degree is a doctoral academic degree in music. The D.M.A. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy. The D.M.A...
degrees in composition from the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, along with a diploma from the Neupauer Conservatory of Music in performance/composition. He performs music in many genres, has commissioned and premiered hundreds of new works, has written a number of books and articles and has made numerous recordings and videos. His music has been featured in a number of films and television shows.
Awards
He received a Composers' Citation from The American Accordionists' Association in honor of his composition, "The Spring Street Ritual", which was the test piece for the 1979 Coupe Mondiale World Competition. He received The Confederations Internationale Association Merit Award for his contributions as a composer, performer and philosopher on the international accordion scene. He received a Merit Award from the American Accordionists' Association for his contributions spanning fifty years plus the "Accordionist of the Year" Award in 1988. He received the Keyboard magazine readers' poll award in 1992 as "Best Accordionist". He has served and continues to serve as Artist in Residence of The American Accordionist's where he also serves as Distinguished Lecturer in Residence and member of the Governing Board. National Public Radio called Schimmel the world's greatest accordionist. Schimmel won the Stereo Review Album of the year award, and was nominated for a Grammy award.Performances
He has performed with many major symphony orchestras in the U.S, many different chamber groups, as well as with rock, jazz, and avant-garde groups. In addition, he has appeared on numerous radio programs as a guest performer and commentator, and now hosts his own internet radio show, The Old In and Out, on WS Accordion Radio.Academic work
Schimmel conducts a yearly three day Master Class and Concert Series (The Seminars) sponsored by the American Accordionists' Association, dedicated to the exploration and establishment of an accordion culture, which is in its seventeenth season.He has served on the faculties of numerous colleges including The Juilliard School, and New York University.He is known as an authority of the music of Kurt Weill and has recorded all of Weill's music which includes the accordion.