Steven Stucky, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's 2011–12 Composer of the Year, will discuss his works during a free lecture at Pitt's Department of Music. Stucky is the recipient of numerous commissions from orchestras, performing groups, individuals, and foundations both at home and abroad. The New York Times called the Second Concerto for Orchestra, commissioned and premiered in 2004 by the Los Angeles Philharmonic,

“an electrifying piece: three movements that explore an orchestra's potential in much the way Bartok's and Lutoslawski's concertos for orchestra do, but in ways that sound fresh and exciting. It alludes to works by other composers without losing its own focus, … stands apart from academic disputes about style and language, and strives for direct communication."

Stucky’s extensive catalogue of compositions ranges from large-scale orchestral works to a cappella miniatures for chorus, an eight-minute work for five percussionists, solo piano pieces, and music for such ensembles as piano quartet, string quartet, wind quintet, voice and piano, and saxophone and piano. He is also active as a conductor, writer, lecturer, and teacher, and for 20 years has been half of the longest relationship between a composer and an American orchestra: in 1988, André Previn appointed him Composer in Residence of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and today Stucky is the LAP’s Consulting Composer for New Music, working closely with Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen on contemporary programming, the awarding of commissions, educational projects for school children, and programming for nontraditional audiences.