Is great art born of the person or their circumstances?

When great art is produced, does it flow primarily out of the genius of the artist or the difficult circumstances of their life? Using Ludwig van Beethoven's life and music as a guide, the Hoyers plumb the depths of the age old question, "Would the artist have produced such beautiful art if he hadn't had such a difficult life?"

About Nancy Hoyer

Mrs. Hoyer grew up in Massachusetts and has been singing and playing the flute for over 40 years. She has lived all over the country, including Florida, Connecticut, New York, California, and Colorado, where she has lived for the past 11 years. She and her husband Gustav have five children - all of whom were homeschooled until attending Liberty Common High School. A lover of educational philosophy, and especially Classical Education, Mrs. Hoyer enjoys reading, quilting, taking long walks, volunteering at church, and making music with her family. She is blessed to work at such an incredible school with such wonderful people.

About Gustav Hoyer

Gustav Hoyer was born in Denver CO in 1972. His musical pursuits began in high school following a life-changing encounter with the music of Beethoven and Mozart. He subsequently studied music theory, piano, and violin and pursued collegiate degrees in composition. He has written music for a wide variety of ensembles, media, and settings. His recorded music has been heard in film, on radio, and in performance around the world. He continues to create new orchestral music that draws on the tools of classical vocabulary while fully modern in their contemplations.

Rich in musical narrative, his works have been described as evocative, accessible, and powerfully emotional. He was the Artistic Director for Los Angeles-based Orchestra Unleashed, Artistic Director of contemporary classical ensemble NoCo Artists, and now serves as the Associate Director of the Loveland Opera Theatre. As a conductor he has performed over 20 new compositions by composers from around the world. He continues to record and release new works with recent album releases Witness (2018), The Gilded Age (2020), The Mental Cartographer (2021), A Winter Journal (2023), and Conversations (2023).

Helpful Links

Liberty Common School Website: www.libertycommon.org

Festival of Ideas 2024: www.libertycommon.org/about/news-and-events/festival-of-ideas/speakers

Gustav Hoyer: https://gustavhoyer.com/

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