Elegy for a Young American was written in 1964 and is dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy. This beautiful work was premiered by the Indiana Wind Ensemble, with Daniel DiCicco conducting, in April of that same year. 

The work is often described as moving through various stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Gentle, homophonic choruses give way to discordant outbursts and massive climaxes as the composer struggles to make sense of Kennedy’s death. Finally, the anguish settles into a peaceful resolution, suggesting that even in the face of tragedy there is some room for acceptance and eventually, peace. This work is often used 

Ronald Lo Presti was a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, and a former Ford Foundation composer-in-residence. He taught at Texas Technical University, Indiana State College, and Arizona State University. For some time he was engaged as a teacher of clarinet in public schools and was later appointed as an instructor of music theory. Lo Presti was the recipient of several Ford Foundation grants to young American composers.

Program note researched and written by Elisabeth Jackson