Aaron Jay Kernis Quotes

"One of the things I'm really grateful for about growing up when I did was both this wide ranging exposure and the encouragement of that in high school. I came to New York City at a time when stylistic boundaries were breaking down... The first pieces of David Del Tredici, the emergence of minimalism - in a way my acceptance of everything was already prepared for me by the exposure I had in high school and earlier."

"Back when I left school (I was 23 at that time), and mentally even before that, I made the commitment to do whatever it took to live my life as a composer and not teach at any university for the sake of a steady salary. I was afraid - and I think I was right - that I would not have enough time. I'm amazed at the composers who do have time to both, like Chris Rouse. Others just wait until summer and make an uneasy peace with that. It's not that I don't enjoy teaching. I love contact with young composers and seeing them develop. But if I'm to be a role model, the best thing I can do is to try to write the best music I can. I became very used to living on nothing - and not expecting, but hoping I could be comfortable enough to keep going."