Rosa Drake Julstrom • 4950 N. Ashland Ave., Apt. 754 • Chicago, IL., 60640, USA
Phone: (773) 961-8691 • E-Mail: julstrom@macomb.com
Biography of Clifford Julstrom
Composer/violinist Clifford Julstrom, born in 1907 in Des Moines, Iowa, was the son of Swedish immigrant parents who loved music. He began violin lessons at age nine, and was taken to hear artist-performers, including Fritz Kreisler and pianist Josef Hofmann. He recalled being entranced when first hearing a violin beautifully played.
Violin studies were with Clarence Graham, Ludwig Becker, Leon Sammetini, Misha Mishakoff, Gustave Tinlot and Samuel Belov. He graduated and taught at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, then studied at the Eastman School, Rochester, NY, receiving a Ph.D. in Composition in 1948. His mentors there were Bernard Rogers and Howard Hanson.
A faculty member at Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL from 1936-1974, he developed string programs and founded what later became the WIU Symphony. During World War II, he was a Warrant Officer Band Leader, serving in Europe. As Chair of the WIU Music Dept., 1949-1969, he began the Summer Music Camps for band, orchestra and chorus. After retirement he continued composing and some performing.
His compositional style is always tonal, but has 20th Century dissonance combined with reminiscent romantic and impressionistic flavors.
In 1991, his widow Rosa Drake Julstrom began computer-copying from his clear and detailed manuscripts, in order to print, publish and preserve his legacy of compositions. A pianist, she has degrees from the University of Rochester and Eastman . She taught piano and theory at Middlebury College before marriage and moving to Macomb in 1948. Since then she has been an independent music teacher, performer and now, publisher.
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