Peter Dickson Lopez

As an internationally performed composer, Peter Dickson Lopez traces his musical roots to a broad range of influences from his tenure as a graduate student at the University of California at Berkeley, as a Tanglewood (USA) Fellowship Composer, and as recipient of the George Ladd Prix de Paris (1976-78). The eclectic nature of Lopez’s mature style stems no doubt from having worked directly with composers of diverse approaches and philosophies during his early years at Berkeley and Tanglewood: with Joaquin Nin Culmell, Andrew Imbrie, Edwin Dugger, Olly Wilson, Earle Brown at UC Berkeley (1972-1978); and with Ralph Shapey and Theodore Antoniou during his Fellowship at Tanglewood (1979). Even more influential to Lopez’s artistic development was his residence in Paris where he had the opportunity to listen to many live concerts of contemporary European composers as well as to attend numerous events at IRCAM. 

One of Lopez’s creative principles is that “composition is performance on paper!” No doubt due to this enduring philosophy, his compositions were recognized early in his career: with several prizes and awards including the George Ladd Prix de Paris and the Lili Boulanger Memorial Prize; with numerous performances throughout the United States and Europe; and with an LP recording of a major work for Male Voice, Chamber Orchestra, and Live Electronics released on the 1750 Arch Records label. In 2021 this work, The Ship of Death in an abbreviated version, was rereleased in digital format by PARMA Recordings on the Navona Records label. 

Lopez is equally comfortable with experimental instrumental techniques (IFASIA for octet), electronics (Moment Pieces for Extended Piano), digital techniques (MISE-EN, Series I, II, and III), electroacoustics (The Ship of Death), and traditional methodologies (Visions des reflets et nocturnes for Piano and String Orchestra, Song of Thirteen Moons for Orchestra, and Aujourd’hui for Double String Orchestra). 

World premieres of works have been performed by the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra in Sydney, Australia (2017, 2018), the Ensemble MISE-EN in Seoul, South Korea (2018), the Lviv Philharmonic Society in Lviv, Ukraine (2022), and the Progressive Musicians Laureate Gala at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall (June, 2023) with Jennifer Wang performing the first of Lopez’s Pieces From A Distant Land, Series I. This same work was recorded by pianist Anna Kislitsyna and released in January 2024 on Navona Records. Lopez’s MISE-EN Series II Episode I for Amplified String Quartet and Acousmatic Sound was released in May 2023 and performed by the Sirius Quartet, also on Navona Records. Additionally, two movements of his Song of Thirteen Moons for Orchestra have been recorded by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra (both in 2023). Coincidentally, two of these recent works have been recognized by The American Prize in 2023: Adagio and Elegy from Song of Thirteen Moons for Orchestra (finalist orchestral), and MISE-EN Series II Episode I (2nd place chamber).

Lopez continues his creative work with the world premiere of Prelude from Emmanuel Variations for Piano Solo at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in New York City (2024), and performing his own album of piano compositions in studio for release later in 2024.