Francis Thorne

Full biography Francis Thorne

Francis Thorne was an American composer of contemporary classical music who was born on June 23 , 1922, in Bay Shore, New York, and died on March 7, 2017, in Canaan, Connecticut. He was the grandson of the writer Gustav Kobb. Thorne was a champion of emerging composers, and in 1977, he founded the American Composers Orchestra, which premiered works by over 800 American composers. Thorne was a prolific composer himself and wrote music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. He was known for his dedication to his craft and his seriousness as a composer-lyricist. Thorne's work has been recorded by various artists and can be found on platforms such as Spotify and New World Records. He was a visionary in the field of contemporary classical music, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence composers today.