Emma Lou Diemer

From Wind Repertory Project
Emma Lou Diemer

Biography

Emma Lou Diemer (b. 24 November 1927, Kansas City, Mo.) is an American composer, keyboardist and educator.

Dr. Diemer began writing short piano works at the age of seven and had written several piano concertos by the time she was 13. Her studies were taken at Yale University (where one of her teachers was Paul Hindemith), the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, Belgium (under a Fulbright scholarship), and at the Berkshire Music Center. She received a Ph.D. from the Eastman School of Music in 1960.

Among the positions she has held are composer-in-residence at the Arlington (Virginia) public schools (1959-1961), professor of theory and composition at the University of Maryland (1965-1970), and professor of theory and composition at the University of California, Santa Barbara (1971-1991). While at UCSB, Diemer helped to establish the computer/electronic music program.

Diemer has written many works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, keyboard, voice, chorus (women's, men's), and electronic media. Diemer is a keyboard performer and over the years has given concerts of her own organ works at Washington National Cathedral, The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, Grace Cathedral and St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco, and others.

Diemer has won numerous awards for her music, including the Woods Chandler Prize (Yale University) and the Kennedy Center Friedheim Award.


Works for Winds

Adaptable Music

  • Aria (Flex instrumentation) (2020)


All Wind Works


Resources