Eric Whitacre is a Grammy-winning composer and conductor based out
of Los Angeles, California where he is current Artist-in-Residence with the Los
Angeles Master Chorale. He came to his passion for classical music relatively
late, after singing Mozart’s Requiem while a student at the University of
Nevada. He went on to study with John Corigliano and David Diamond at the
prestigious Julliard School of Music. Whitacre writes orchestral works but is
most known for his music composed for vocal ensemble. He has received
commissions from some of the world’s top ensembles including the London
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Chanticleer, and The King’s Singers.
What is your favorite of Whitacre’s works? I’d have to say mine is
“Goodnight Moon” – a song Whitacre wrote based on the popular children’s book
of the same name by Margaret Wise Brown. After reading the book to his son
countless times before bed, Whitacre decided to set the song to music for his
wife, soprano Hila Plitmann, to sing.
