Bernard Rands (born 1934) is a major composer and conductor in contemporary music, publishing more than 100 works in a wide range of performance genres. Born in England but now an American citizen, Rands studied in Italy under Luciano Berio, Luigi Dallapiccola, and Roman Vlad. His distinquished academic career included professorships at York University, Oxford University, and the University of California San Diego. His composition "Canti del Sole" won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize in Music, and his orchestral suites "Le Tambourin" won the 1986 John F. Kennedy Center Friedheim Award. Rands has been called one of the most important musical voices of our time.

Career in Composition and Academia

Rands was born March 2, 1934, in Sheffield, England. He studied music and English literature at the University College of Wales, Bangor, earning a bachelor's degree in music in 1956 and a master's degree in 1958. After completing his academic degrees, he traveled around Italy for two...