Nicholas Van Slyck
{{Short description|American composer}}
Nicholas Van Slyck (October 25, 1922 - July 3, 1983{{cite web|last=Van Slyck|first=Nicholas|title=Massachusetts, Death Index, 1970-200|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VZ52-5HS|publisher=familysearch.org|accessdate=4 December 2013}}) was an American composer of classical music. He founded the New School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1976.Dyer, Richard. [https://www.newspapers.com/image/430751301/ "Records: Classical"], Calendar, The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, volume 12, number 27, March 26, 1987, page 7. {{subscription required}}
Early life
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 25, 1922. He graduated from Kent School in Kent, Connecticut in 1940 and Harvard University (Class of 1944){{cite news|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1942/10/24/van-slyck-will-give-piano-recital/|title=Van Slyck Will Give Piano Recital Sunday|date=1942-10-24|publisher=thecrimson.com|accessdate=2013-12-11}} where he studied with Walter Piston. He served in the United States Navy from March 1943 to June 1945 in World War II."Index Record for Nicholas Van Slyck (1922) Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem Death File", Fold3 by Ancestry.com website. Retrieved January 19, 2022. Enlistment Date is listed as "27 Mar 1943" and Release Date is listed as "21 Jun 1945". He was a Seaman 2nd Class (Musician) and served with the 30th Construction Battalion (Seabees).[https://books.google.com/books?id=ChtqwRfiKvEC&pg=PA101&lpg= "The 30th Log: A Battalion Biography"], 30th United States Navy Construction Battalion, Robert W. Kelly Publishing Corporation, New York City, page 101. While attending Harvard in the 1940s, he was also the director of the Harvard Chamber orchestra.
Career
He was a composer and concert pianist.Durgin, Cyrus. [https://www.newspapers.com/image/433460246/ "Van Slyck Work Played By the Civic Symphony"], The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, volume CLXXXI, number 117, April 27, 1962, page 20. {{subscription required}} From 1950 to 1962, he was the director of the South End Music Center in Boston, Massachusetts and from 1962 to 1976, he was the director of the Longy School of Music of Bard College.[https://www.newspapers.com/image/436976990/ "Nicholas Van Slyck, 60, headed Boston, Cambridge Music Schools"], The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, volume 224, number 4, July 4, 1983, page 27. {{subscription required}}[https://www.newspapers.com/image/433297302/ "Longy School"], The Boston Sunday Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, volume 185, number 117, April 26, 1964, page 73. {{subscription required}}[https://www.newspapers.com/image/433187970/ "Van Slyck New Longy Director, Smith to Retire"], Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, volume CLXXXI, number 109, April 19, 1962, page 7. {{subscription required}} From 1962 to 1967, he was the conductor of the Quincy Symphony.
He had his music performed by the Boston Civic Symphony.{{cite news|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1948/11/26/hot-gavotte-pthe-idler/|title=Hot Gavotte. . .|date=1948-11-26|publisher=thecrimson.com|accessdate=2013-12-11}} The Vermont Symphony Orchestra played his music at the 10 year anniversary of the New School.Miller, Nancy. [https://www.newspapers.com/image/430754162/ "New School of Music pays tribute to former director"], Boston Sunday Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, volume 231, number 88, March 29, 1987, page 44. {{subscription required}}
Honors
- 1983 Composer of the Year from Music Teachers National Association
Works
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References
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External links
- [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/nicholas-van-slyck-mn0001490865/discography Allmusic profile]
- [http://www.thecrimson.com/search/?cx=013815813102981840311%3Aaw6l9tjs1a0&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=Nicholas+Van+Slyck&sa= The Harvard Crimson coverage about Nicholas Van Slyck]
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Category:20th-century American composers
Category:20th-century American male composers
Category:Harvard University alumni
Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II