Eric Stokes papers

Composer Eric Stokes (1930-1999) was born just outside of Philadelphia in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. Stokes was involved in music from a young age and continued his studies at Lawrence College in Wisconsin, graduating in 1952. He obtained his Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory in 1956 following two years in the Army. Several years later Stokes began his doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota. After completeing his doctoral degree, Stokes' went on to teach at the University of Minnesota for the next 29 years, retiring in 1988.

It was during Eric Stokes' time at the University of Minnesota that he was most prolific as a composer. He composed more than eighty works including operas, chamber music, orchestral, and choral works. Stokes' compositions were premiered by several high-profile music ensembles in Minnesota, such as the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera Company, Zeitgeist, and the Dale Warland Singers.

Eric Stokes is the founder of Horspfal Music Concern, his publishing company and main vehicle for distributing his compositions. The name is taken from the name from the first opera Stokes' composed, Horspfal. Stokes' music was eclectic in style, but frequently drew on nature and poetry for inspiration. After the composer's death, the Eric Stokes Fund, "Earth's Best in Tune." was created. Administered by the American Composers Forum in Saint Paul, the Eric Stokes Fund provides grants to emerging artists interested in Stokes' music and/or ecologically-conscious music.