Composer Ivan Tcherepnin Dies

Ivan Alexandrovitch Tcherepnin, senior lecturer on music and director of Harvard's Electronic Music Studio for more than 25 years, died April 11 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He was 55.

Born in Paris, Tcherepnin had many musical influences, including two close relatives who were composers: grandfather Nikolai and father Alexander. His mother, Lee Hsien-Ming, was the first woman pianist to graduate from Shanghai Conservatory.

After earning degrees from Harvard (A.B. 1964; A.M. 1969), Tcherepnin studied in Europe, and then moved to San Francisco. He quickly became known for his creativity in the new field of musical electronics.

In 1996, Tcherepnin won the University of Louisville Grawmeyer Award for Musical Composition for his Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra. The piece premiered in 1995 at Sanders Theatre with violinist Lynn Chang '75, cellist Yo-Yo Ma '76, and the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra under David Commanday '76.

Tcherepnin leaves his wife Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin; a daughter, Sarina, of Cambridge; sons Nicholas of New York City, Stefan of Watertown, and Sergei of Falmouth; brothers Serge of Paris and Peter of New York City; and a grandson.

Funeral arrangements are private. A memorial service is being planned.