Walter Arlen, geb. Aptowitzer

1920 Wien
Walter Arlen, born Aptowitzer, born October 31, 1920 in Vienna, music critic, composer, teacher. First piano lessons at home, first compositions at age ten. 1939 exile in the USA, various bread-and-butter jobs. Composition studies with Leo Sowerby, first prize composition competition American Conservatory Chicago with award consisting of composition lessons with Roy Harris, whose assistant he became in 1947. Further composition studies Nashville Vanderbilt University, Tennessee and University of California, Los Angeles, 1955 M. A. in composition UCLA. Assistant to prominent music critic Albert Goldberg, 1953-80 music critic Los Angeles Times, where he had first hand contact with the music scene of his time. Establishment of the music department at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, 1969-90 assistant professor, various other teaching positions. Since 1986 active as composer again; 2008 Gold Medal Republic of Austria, 2011 Gold Medal Federal State of Vienna. Walter Arlen lives in Los Angeles and Vienna. His music is published by Musikverlag Doblinger. Update Primavera Driessen Gruber January 12, 2014