ITHACA, N.Y. — Pulitzer prize winner Steven Stucky died at his Ithaca home on Sunday after a brief battle with brain cancer, a representative for the composer said.
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Stucky, 66, won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for Second Concerto for Orchestra, according to his website. The Cornell University Department of Music, where Stucky taught until 2014, states that recordings of Stucky’s works have won two Grammy awards.
He was a trustee of the American Academy in Rome, a director of New Music USA, a board member of the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He was also a conductor, writer, lecturer, and teacher.
Stucky is said to have, “played a considerable role in shaping West Coast taste to moderate modernism” after working with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he was resident composer for 21 years.
His wife Kristen Stucky said the following in a statement:
“I am completely and utterly devastated to inform the world of the passing of the love of my life, Steven Stucky. My greatest love lost his hard-fought battle with brain cancer on February 14, 2016.
Steve was diagnosed in November, had brain surgery on December 2, 2015 for a grade IV glioblastoma. Steve completed 6 weeks of radiation and chemo, but the aggressive nature of this disgusting disease was tougher than my hard-fighting husband.
He died unexpectedly at home yesterday morning. I will forever love and mourn this great man, as will the world. My apologies for not posting immediately, but the grief of his loss is beyond palatable. I wanted time to collect my thoughts and convey this news in the manner that Steve wanted.
However, in this day and age, social media does not allow this privilege. Please honor Steve’s life by continuing to appreciate his music and the kindness that he conveyed to all.”