Eric Whitacre Quotes

Powerful Eric Whitacre for Daily Growth

About Eric Whitacre

Eric Whitacre, born on January 2, 1973, in Reno, Nevada, is an internationally renowned American composer, conductor, and singer, known for his innovative use of technology and his emotive, harmonically rich choral music. Whitacre's musical journey began at a young age. He started piano lessons at the age of six and quickly discovered his passion for music. At 14, he joined the Reno Chamber Orchestra as a percussionist, and at 16, he was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City. After graduating from Juilliard, Whitacre worked with various ensembles and orchestras before founding his own professional choir, The Vitreum Vocal Ensemble, in 2001. His breakthrough came in 2005 when he created a virtual choir for his piece "Lux Aurumque." This pioneering work brought together singers from around the world, united by technology and their shared love of music. Whitacre's major works include "Cloudburst," "Water Night," and "Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine," which have been performed by some of the world's top orchestras and choirs. His music is known for its ethereal, otherworldly quality, often inspired by his fascination with space and time. In 2014, Whitacre was appointed as Composer-in-Residence at the Los Angeles Master Chorale, where he continues to push the boundaries of choral music, incorporating technology and exploring new sonic landscapes. His influence extends beyond classical music, reaching a wide audience through his TED Talks, virtual choir projects, and collaborations with artists such as Eminem and Imogen Heap. Eric Whitacre's unique approach to composition and his commitment to fostering connections between musicians worldwide have made him one of the most influential figures in contemporary choral music.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Choirs change lives. They give us a place to dream, to hope, and to create."

This quote by Eric Whitacre suggests that choirs serve as platforms for personal growth, fostering dreams, aspirations, and creativity within individuals. The social and musical collaborative nature of choir work encourages members to express themselves, connect emotionally, and find inspiration in shared experiences. This environment not only enriches their lives but also allows them to explore and realize their potential.


"Music does not resolve, it transforms."

The quote "Music does not resolve, it transforms" by Eric Whitacre suggests that music's purpose is not merely to find a conclusion or resolution but rather to effect change, to metamorphose the listener, the performer, or the environment in some way. Music has the power to evoke emotions, stimulate thought, and transport us to different places, moods, or times. It transforms our perception of reality and provides a platform for self-expression and emotional catharsis.


"The power of music is beyond measure."

The quote highlights the profound impact that music has on human beings, emphasizing that its influence transcends traditional measurements or quantification. Music has the ability to evoke strong emotions, connect people across cultures, inspire creativity, and provide solace in times of distress. Its power is deeply felt yet difficult to express in tangible terms, making it an incredibly powerful tool for expression, understanding, and human connection.


"I believe that choirs are some of the most powerful forces for good in our society."

This quote by Eric Whitacre suggests that choirs, as collective groups that use their voices harmoniously, have a significant and positive impact on society. He implies that through music, these groups can promote unity, empathy, understanding, and hope among individuals, thus serving as "forces for good." This is achieved not only by the beautiful sound they produce but also by bringing people together in a shared experience, fostering a sense of community and promoting positive social change.


"When we sing together, we become something greater than ourselves."

This quote by Eric Whitacre emphasizes the transformative power of collective music. When individuals come together to create harmonious sounds through singing, they transcend their individual selves and collectively form a unified entity – a testament to unity, cooperation, and shared humanity. It suggests that music serves as a universal language, fostering understanding and connection among people, thereby elevating the human experience beyond individual limitations.


There must be four or five hundred choirs here in London alone. In a way, there's nowhere else on Earth I could go and get this level and passion for singing in the one place.

- Eric Whitacre

Singing, Here, Hundred, London

Many composers use software to write music - programs like Finale or Sibelius. There are also recording programs. I should say I'm still very old-fashioned, I still use pencil and paper. But almost every composer I know does it the 'new way.'

- Eric Whitacre

Software, Very, Composers, Finale

I'm not a culture snob. So while, of course, I think the Mozart 'Requiem' or, say, Beethoven's 'Ninth' are some of the greatest works of art in the history of humankind, that's not to say the Beatles or Queen or Simon and Garfunkel aren't brilliant, beautiful, important works of art that should be sung without a sense of irony.

- Eric Whitacre

Some, I Think, Works, Beethoven

I wanted to be a rock star. I dreamed of it, and that's all I dreamed of. To be more accurate, I wanted to be a pop star. This was in the late '80s. And mostly, I wanted to be the fifth member of Depeche Mode or Duran Duran.

- Eric Whitacre

Star, Rock Star, Mostly, Pop Star

With vocal and choral music, first and foremost, it's the text. Not only do I need to serve the text, but the text - when I'm doing it right - acts as the perfect 'blueprint', and all the architecture is there. The poet has done the heavy lifting, so my job is to find the soul of the poem and then somehow translate that into music.

- Eric Whitacre

Soul, Doing, Perfect, Blueprint

When I went to college at the University of Nevada back in Las Vegas, I got tricked into singing in choir. The first thing we did was the Mozart 'Requiem.' That was the piece that changed my life overnight.

- Eric Whitacre

College, My Life, Las Vegas, Mozart

The virtual choir would never replace live music or a real choir, but the same sort of focus and intent and esprit de corps is evident in both, and at the end of the day it seems to me a genuine artistic expression.

- Eric Whitacre

Focus, Replace, Virtual, Corps

People in chorus tends to be much more emotional or at least wear their hearts on their sleeve. They are generally the kind to hold hands and cry. It's just a different personality type.

- Eric Whitacre

Hands, Kind, More, Chorus

For me, the virtual choir has taught me that, if anything, the Internet builds these post-national tribes, people finding each other anyway they can.

- Eric Whitacre

Finding, Other, Virtual, Tribes

I'm a self-confessed geek, and my whole concept of music at first was entirely electronic. In many ways, it turned out to be an advantage. I was so green, so utterly naive about the nature of classical music, that I did things that made me look totally, deliberately unorthodox.

- Eric Whitacre

Concept, About, Turned, Electronic

To have a live choir there on the stage and then these singers from different countries signing with us in real time through Skype, it's as if there aren't borders anymore.

- Eric Whitacre

Through, Singers, Borders, Skype

When you look back on music history, it falls into these neat periods, but of course, the period you yourself are living through seems totally scattered and chaotic.

- Eric Whitacre

Living, Through, Period, Chaotic

Since I first fell in love with choral music when I was 18 and began composing at 21, I've been listening to these recordings of British choirs. I just fell in love with that sound - that pure, clean, pristine sound - and I think it's probably been the biggest influence on my sound.

- Eric Whitacre

Love, Been, I Think, Pristine

I don't know if it is a spiritual, physiological or psychological phenomenon, but I believe now more than ever that singing is a universal, built-in mechanism designed to cultivate empathy and compassion.

- Eric Whitacre

Empathy, More, Psychological, I Believe

I wouldn't say that I'm actually trying to cause chills in the audience, but certainly my goal is to, at the very least, effect a physiological response - at the most, to effect some sort of state change, ideally, in the audience.

- Eric Whitacre

Some, Very, Certainly, Chills

As a composer, I know that all sorts of sounds I hear are making their way into my brain and soul and later sneak into my music.

- Eric Whitacre

Soul, Making, Composer, Sneak

I truly thought I was going to be in pop music. And then I joined a choir to meet girls, and everything changed in the first rehearsal.

- Eric Whitacre

Thought, Going, Rehearsal, Choir

When I had my first experiences of choral singing, the dissonance of those close harmonies was so exquisite that I would giggle or I would tear up, and I felt it in a physical way.

- Eric Whitacre

Singing, Exquisite, Giggle, Harmonies

In Las Vegas, the magnitude is impressive, but the humanity is gone. It feels like you're being intimidated out of your money instead of inviting you to come have this experience.

- Eric Whitacre

Vegas, Feels, Las Vegas, Magnitude

I'm not an atheist, but I'm not a Christian, either.

- Eric Whitacre

Christian, Either, Atheist

I can't write music unless I'm deeply connected to it and that connection almost always comes from some experience that I have had or am having.

- Eric Whitacre

Some, Always, Having, Connection

For the first six or eight months at Juilliard I felt paralysed. I didn't know what I was doing.

- Eric Whitacre

Doing, Six, Months, Juilliard

A really good poem is full of music.

- Eric Whitacre

Music, Good, Really, Poem

I happen to be one of the people who believe that the Internet is a force of good, and I'm very optimistic about it.

- Eric Whitacre

Happen, Very, About, Force

I write music that sounds complex but isn't. I frankly never think in terms of theory.

- Eric Whitacre

Music, Think, Never, Frankly

I don't feel like I'm an artist with a capital 'A.'

- Eric Whitacre

Artist, Feel, Like, Capital

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