Kraft, William

Biography

Kraft was born on Sept. 6, 1923, in Chicago, IL; BS (1951) and MA (1954) in composition, Columbia Univ.; percussionist, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (LAPO), 1955-81; became the music director of the LA Percussion Ensemble and Chamber Players in 1955; became director of LAPO New Music Group in 1981; composer-in-residence, LAPO, 1981-85; recipient of Guggenheim fellowships (1967 & 1972), NEA grants (1975, 1977, 1979), and an award from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (1984); his intimate knowledge of percussion instruments is an important influence on his work; his works include a number of large-scale works for orchestra and percussion.

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