15 Facts About Libby Larsen

Libby Larsen was born on December 24,1950, in Wilmington, Delaware, the daughter of Robert Larsen and Alice Brown Larsen.

Libby Larsen was the third of five daughters in the family, and at the age of three, Libby and her family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Libby Larsen observed her older sister's piano lessons at home; later, she imitated what she had heard.

The rhythmic flexibility and prosody of text Libby Larsen learned in chant showed her that there is freedom in music, a concept that would prove to be very influential in her future compositions.

Libby Larsen attended the University of Minnesota for both her undergraduate and graduate work.

Libby Larsen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theory and Composition in 1971, a Masters of Arts degree in Composition in 1975, and a PhD in Theory and Composition in 1978.

In 1975, Libby Larsen married her husband, James Reece, whom she met at university.

In 1973, Libby Larsen co-founded the Minnesota Composers Forum with colleague Stephen Paulus with the goal to provide a public platform and an audience for the creation and performance of new compositions, along with giving practical help in business matters such as applying for fellowships and negotiating contracts.

In 1983, Libby Larsen was appointed one of the Minnesota Orchestra's two composers-in-residence, making her the first woman to serve as a resident composer with a major orchestra.

Libby Larsen composed her first symphony, Water Music, for the Minnesota Orchestra, which was premiered in 1985 under Sir Neville Marriner.

Libby Larsen organized and became artistic director of the Hot Notes Series in 1993, which focuses on the modern keyboard, particularly on the interaction between performer and synthesized sound.

Libby Larsen has given keynote addresses at places such as the League of American Orchestras, American Choral Directors Association, American Orff-Schulwerk Association National Convention, Concert Band Directors National Association, Dominique de Menil Presidential Lecture Series at Rice University, Music Educators National Convention, and National Association of Schools of Music.

In 2010, Libby Larsen received a George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music in America.

Libby Larsen's music comes from the sound she hears everyday around her in the world.

Libby Larsen composes without barlines, preferring to first discover the natural flow of a line and then refine it until she finds a common meter, giving many of her compositions a feeling of free internal rhythm.