American composers who began writing at a young age

Some famous American composers who began at a young age:

George Gershwin

Born on Sept. 26, 1898, in Brooklyn, Gershwin dropped out of school at age 15 and became known as a talented pianist while still in his teens. At age 18, he composed his first published song, “When You Want ’Em, You Can’t Get ’Em, When You’ve Got ’Em, You Don’t Want ’Em.’’ He went on to become one of the most significant and popular American composers, known for his Broadway musicals, such as “Funny Face,’’ “Strike up the Band,’’ and “Girl Crazy.’’ He died of a brain tumor in 1937 at age 38.

Aaron Copland

Born Nov. 19, 1900, in Brooklyn, Copland had decided to become a composer by the age of 15. His “Symphony for Organ and Orchestra’’ (1924) premiered at Carnegie Hall with the New York Symphony. He produced many compositions over the next decade, including three ballets based on American folk material, “Billy the Kid’’ in 1938, “Rodeo’’ in 1942, and “Appalachian Spring’’ in 1944.

Richard Rodgers

Born June 28, 1902, on Long Island, Rodgers was playing the piano by ear at age 6. By 14, he had written two popular songs, and before he entered Columbia University in 1939, he had written music for two amateur shows. He teamed with lyricist Lorenz Hart to write more than 40 Broadway shows and film scores from the 1920s to the early 1940s, including “Babes in Arms’’ and “Pal Joey.’’ He later collaborated with Oscar Hammerstein to create musicals such as “Oklahoma,’’ “South Pacific,’’ “The King and I,’’ and “The Sound of Music.’’

Compiled by Wendy Killeen