Robert Evett (composer)

Born in Loveland, Colorado, Evett was the son of a livery stable owner. His mother was a pianist, and introduced him to music; he began composing early. At one point discovering, in his early teenage years, that Artur Schnabel was vacationing in Colorado, Evett showed the pianist a piano sonata he had written, receiving encouragement for his efforts. Shortly thereafter his elder brother Kenneth brought him to Colorado Springs to begin formal study under Roy Harris.^[2] He studied under Harris between 1941 and 1947,^[1] going to Cornell University as a Telluride Fellow and attending Colorado College for further lessons. In 1947 he went to Washington, D.C., where he chaired the department of music at the Institute of Contemporary Arts and held a position at the District of Columbia Public Library. He moved to New York in 1951 for studies in composition under Vincent Persichetti at the Juilliard School,^[2] where he also studied choral conducting with Margaret Hillis;^[1] he returned to Washington the following year when offered a job by The New Republic. ^[2] He remained in Washington until his death.^[1] Evett received two Pulitzer Prize nominations during his career, one for his music and one for his literary commentary.^[3] Evett died in Takoma Park, Maryland.^[1] A large collection of papers and biographical material is currently held by the Library of Congress;^[4] a handful of manuscripts and copies are held by the New York Public Library.^[5] Some of his choral work has been recorded.^[6]