# Alan Pierson

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{{short description|American conductor}}

thumb|upright 1.20|Alan Emanuel Pierson

'''Alan Emanuel Pierson'''{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierson, Alan}} (born May 12, 1974, [Chicago](/source/Chicago), Illinois) is an American conductor and producer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://davidtlittle.com/recordings/dog-days/|title=David T. Little: Dog Days|website=davidtlittle.com}}</ref>  His parents are Elaine Pierson and Edward S. Pierson, the latter an engineering professor at [Purdue University Calumet](/source/Purdue_University_Calumet).<ref name="NYT1">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/fashion/weddings/15herszenson.html | title=David Herszenson, Alan Pierson | work=New York Times | date=2010-08-15 | access-date=2012-02-03}}</ref> In Chicago Pierson took piano and composition lessons at the People's Music School,<ref>{{cite interview | url=http://live.iop-pp01.agh.sleek.net/2016/07/20/once-a-physicist-alan-pierson | title=Once a physicist: Alan Pierson | work=Physics World | date=August 2016 | access-date=2020-05-30 | archive-date=2020-06-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603144837/http://live.iop-pp01.agh.sleek.net/2016/07/20/once-a-physicist-alan-pierson/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> graduating high school at [Francis W. Parker](/source/Francis_W._Parker).<ref name="ParkerAlum">{{cite mailing list | url=http://www.fwparker.org/page.aspx?pid=1627 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092501/http://www.fwparker.org/page.aspx?pid=1627 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2016-03-04 | title=Alumni News and Announcements | work=Parker Alumni Community March 2008 Alumni e-Newsletter | date=March 2008 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> Pierson is a 1996 graduate of the [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/source/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology) with degrees in music and physics.  At MIT, he was a [timpani](/source/timpani)st and an assistant conductor with the MIT Symphony Orchestra, and also a composer.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1996/pierson-0515.html | title=Alan Pierson leaves musical mark at MIT | work=MIT News | author=Lynn Heinemann | date=1996-05-15 | access-date=2012-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/39245/ | title=Alan Pierson '96 | work=Technology Review | author=Liv Gold | date=January–February 2012 | access-date=2012-02-03}}</ref>

Pierson continued his studies in music at the [Eastman School of Music](/source/Eastman_School_of_Music), where he was a co-founder of the new music ensemble Ossia. Subsequently, he was a co-founder of the related new music ensemble [Alarm Will Sound](/source/Alarm_Will_Sound), which gave its first concert in 2001.  Pierson became the first music director of Alarm Will Sound in the same year, and continues to serve in the post.

In January 2011, Pierson was named the artistic director of the former [Brooklyn Philharmonic](/source/Brooklyn_Philharmonic).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E1D9143FF933A15752C0A9679D8B63 | title=Arts, Briefly Brooklyn Philharmonic Hires Artistic Director | work=New York Times | author=Daniel J. Wakin | date=2011-01-20 | access-date=2012-02-03}}</ref> When the orchestra suspended operations in 2013 his contract was not renewed.<ref name=NR>{{cite web | url=https://www.wqxr.org/story/brooklyn-philharmonic-troubled-tune | title=Brooklyn Philharmonic Innovative But Sounding a Troubled Tune | work=WQXR Blog | author=Brian Wise | date=2018-10-18 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> Pierson also serves as principal conductor of the [Crash Ensemble](/source/Crash_Ensemble) in Ireland, and has guest conducted with the [Los Angeles Philharmonic](/source/Los_Angeles_Philharmonic),<ref name=LAPhil>{{cite web | url=https://www.esm.rochester.edu/advancement/scholarships/alan-pierson/ | title=Alan Pierson 06E (DMA) Pursuing Endeavors of Passion | work=Eastman School of Music website | date=2020-05-30 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> [Chicago Symphony](/source/Chicago_Symphony),<ref name=CCR>{{cite web | url=https://chicagoclassicalreview.com/2019/12/compelling-gifts-in-small-packages-make-for-a-rewarding-musicnow-program | title=Compelling gifts in small packages make for rewarding MusicNOW night | author=Lawrence A. Johnson | date=2019-12-03 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> [Los Angeles Opera](/source/Los_Angeles_Opera),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.operabase.com/artists/alan-pierson-232/en | title=Alan Pierson, Conductor | work=OperaBase | date=2020-05-30 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> [New World Symphony](/source/New_World_Symphony),<ref name=SFreview>{{cite web | url=https://southfloridaclassicalreview.com/2013/12/critics-choice-26/ | title=Critic's Choice | author=David Fleshier | work=South Florida Classical Review | date=2013-12-03 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> [Orchestra of St. Luke's](/source/Orchestra_of_St._Luke's),<ref name=bric>{{cite web | url=https://www.bricartsmedia.org/events-performances/musical-world-harmonium-mountain-clifford-ross-orchestra-st-lukes-jeffrey | title=The Musical World of Harmonium Mountain: Clifford Ross & The Orchestra of St. Luke's / Jeffrey Zeigler, Andy Akiho & Roger Bonair-Agard | work=bricartsmedia dot org | date=Summer 2015 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> [Beth Morrison Projects](/source/Beth_Morrison_Projects),<ref name=DogDays>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/11/arts/music/review-in-dog-days-a-family-clawing-for-survival.html | title=Review: In 'Dog Days,' a Family Clawing for Survival | work=The New York Times | date=2016-01-10 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> and  [Symphoniker Hamburg](/source/Hamburger_Symphoniker).<ref name=SHamburg>{{cite web | url=https://bachtrack.com/review-dessner-glass-labeque-elbphilharmonie-hamburg-october-2017 | title=Unexpected promise Bryce Dessner at the Elbphilharmonie | author=Sam Johnstone | work=bachtrack | date=2017-10-22 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref>

Pierson has resided in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) since 2002.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-11-02/news/30352510_1_chamber-orchestra-conductor-concertmaster | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707043126/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-11-02/news/30352510_1_chamber-orchestra-conductor-concertmaster | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 7, 2012 | title=Conductor brings Brooklyn Philharmonic back to life | work=New York Daily News | author=Paul Pelkonen | date=2011-11-02 | access-date=2012-02-03}}</ref> He is currently on faculty at [Northwestern University](/source/Northwestern_University)<ref name=NWU>{{cite web | url=https://www.music.northwestern.edu/faculty/profile/alan-pierson | title=Alan Pierson Conducting and Ensembles | work=Northwestern Bienen School of Music | date=2020-05-30 | access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> and conducts at [Mannes College](/source/Mannes_College).<ref name=NewSchool>{{cite web | url=https://events.newschool.edu/event/mace_mannes_american_composers_ensemble_concert_2 | title=MACE Mannes American Composers Ensemble Performs Mazzoli and Schoenberg | work=The New School | date=2016-10-14 | access-date=2020-05-30 | archive-date=2020-06-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603153137/https://events.newschool.edu/event/mace_mannes_american_composers_ensemble_concert_2 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In February 2013, Pierson was featured on the Radiolab episode "Speedthoven".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiolab.org/story/271345-speedthoven/|title=Speedthoven|website=radiolab.org}}</ref>

In 2022, the Eastman School awarded Pierson its Centennial Award. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.esm.rochester.edu/about/awards/centennial-awards/|title=Centennial Awards|website=www.esm.rochester.edu}}</ref> In 2026, he received the Grammy award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for his recording of Donnacha Dennehy's ''Land Of Winter''. <ref>{{Cite web |title={{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/artists/alan-pierson/61420 |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=grammy.com}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111028013811/http://bphil.org/bphilwp/about/artistic/ Brooklyn Philharmonic artistic director biography]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120303134433/http://cantaloupemusic.com/artists.php?artist_id=30 Cantaloupe Music biography]
* [http://nonesuch.com/journal/alarm-will-sound-alan-pierson-named-artistic-director-brooklyn-philharmonic-2011-01-19 "Alarm Will Sound's Alan Pierson Named Artistic Director of Brooklyn Philharmonic".  ''Nonesuch Journal'', 19 January 2011]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
 | title=[Music Director, Alarm Will Sound](/source/Alarm_Will_Sound)
 | before=(no predecessor)
 | years=2001–present
 | after=incumbent}}

{{succession box
 | title=[Artistic Director, Brooklyn Philharmonic](/source/Brooklyn_Philharmonic)
 | before=[Michael Christie](/source/Michael_Christie_(conductor)) (music director)
 | years=2011–2012
 | after=Orchestra dissolved}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
category:1974 births
category:21st-century American conductors (music)
category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
category:21st-century American male musicians
category:American LGBTQ musicians
category:American male conductors (music)
category:Eastman School of Music alumni
category:LGBTQ classical musicians
category:LGBTQ people from Illinois
category:living people
Category:MIT School of Science alumni
category:MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences alumni
Category:Grammy Award winners

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alan Pierson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Pierson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Pierson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.