Composer
Kurt Bestor
American jazz composer
b. 1958
6 works in the index
- Born
- 1958
- Birthplace
- Waukesha
- Citizenship / historical state
- United States
- Period (estimated from birth year)
- Contemporary
Biography
Kurt Bestor (born February 22, 1958) is an American keyboardist and composer specializing in new-age, orchestral arrangements, film scores, and jazz. He is known for his instrumental Christmas arrangements. His best-known song is "Prayer of the Children", a choral composition dedicated to child victims of war. He is also known for composing music for the 1993 movie Rigoletto, and for writing music for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, where he composed and conducted music for the closing ceremonies.
With over 25 albums of his own, Bestor also arranges music for other notable artists, including violinists Caroline Campbell and Jenny Oaks Baker, award-winning vocalists Jennifer Warnes and Melissa Manchester, and popular classical-crossover cellist Stjepan Hauser. His arrangements have also been sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Harlem Boys Choir, and iconic rock group Three Dog Night.
A longtime Utah resident, Bestor plays concerts in Salt Lake City and throughout the Western states.
Biography excerpt from Wikipedia contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting and reference markers have been removed; the introduction may be shortened. View contributors and article history.
Life and musical career
- Occupations
- composer; jazz musician
- Education
- Orem High School
- VIAF ID
- 45945101
- ISNI
- 0000000033595750
- Library of Congress ID
- n91086584
- MusicBrainz ID
- 5be20782-3c49-497c-97e9-74a1c513a2da
Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.
In this catalogue
- Common listed instruments
- Piano, Choir
- Genres represented
- New Age
- Works with composition dates
- 0 of 6
These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.
Catalogue
Works
Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.
| Work | Year composed | Catalogue / opus | Key in title | Listed instruments | Genre | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prayer Of The Children | — | — | — | Choir | New Age | 4 |
| The Melody Within | — | — | — | Piano | New Age | 1 |
| Believe Me, If all Those Enduring Young Charms | — | — | — | Piano | New Age | 1 |
| A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief | — | — | — | Piano | New Age | 1 |
| If You Could Hie to Kolob | — | — | — | Piano | New Age | — |
| Prayer For The Children | — | — | — | — | New Age | — |
Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 45945101.