b.1944, USA
Ray Luedeke, one of the leading composers in North America, was born in New York City and became a Canadian citizen in 1988. His output is extensive and varied, including entertaining theatre pieces for children, sophisticated solo and chamber music, and colorful, carefully crafted pieces for orchestra.
He has received commissions from different organizations such as the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects, the Canadian Saxophone Quintet, NEXUS, the York Winds, Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra London Canada, and Quebec Symphony Orchestra. He attended the Eastman School of Music, the Vienna Academy of Music, and Dartmouth College, where he studied with George Crumb.
From 1981-2010 Ray served as Associate Principal Clarinet of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2010 Ray moved back to New York City where he currently resides.