Ivan Tcherepnin was born in Paris, France, in 1943 to noted pianist and pedagogue Ming and composer Alexander, son of composer-conductor Nikolai. Tcherepnin studied music at Harvard, principally with Leon Kirchner, as well as in Europe with Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Like several other gifted composers of his generation, the young Tcherepnin developed an expertise in electronic music media. After holding positions at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Stanford University, Tcherepnin joined the music faculty of Harvard University in 1972, where he also served as Director of the Harvard Electronic Music Studio until his death in 1998. Ivan's two sons, Stefan and Sergei, continue the musical legacy of the Tcherepnins.
Tcherepnin frequently conducted and lectured in Europe, Asia and the US, and held composer residencies with Music at Marlboro, Rockefeller Center at Bellagio (Italy), Dartington Summer Music School (England) Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and Korsholm Music Festival (Finland). His numerous honors included awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and the National Endowment for the Arts. Notable among his many commissions was a series of works for the American Wind Symphony Orchestra. His Double Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra (1995), written for two of his former students, violinist Lynn Chang and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, won the prestigious International Grawemeyer Prize. The concerto is studded with now humorous, now adoring quotations from great Romantic concertos (including the Brahms Double Concerto) as well as John Coltrane.
