Darius Milhaud

Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) was a pivotal French composer, conductor, and teacher. He was part of Les Six and immensely prolific, incorporating jazz and Brazilian influences into his modernist compositions. He mentored prominent jazz and classical musicians, evidencing his significant pedagogic role. Born into a Jewish family in Marseille with Provencal and Italian roots, Milhaud's early musical journey included a transformative Brazilian sojourn, an embrace of jazz, and impactful teaching stints in the US during WWII.