“It’s exploring some spiritual idea, but other [pieces] are really trying to convey spiritual experiences, those moments in our lives that are so important for reasons that we can’t put into words, those moments when we feel like we’re perceiving something beyond normal life,” Wiprud says. “I try to put into music what can’t be put into words.”

String quartets are most conducive to his musical style of expression, Wiprud says.

“I’ve also written a lot of saxophone music, and orchestral music, but somehow the string quartets are what seem to call out the deepest music,” he says.

Through the medium of music, Wiprud also immortalizes the experiences that have served as his muse.

“In a way the music is an attempt to preserve and share those [experiences], because they can be so fleeting and inexpressible,” he says.

PASSING THE MUSIC ON

And Wiprud makes sure music is a part of his children’s lives too.

“Any child of mine is going to be taking some kind of music,” Wiprud says with a laugh. “You have a choice what kind of music, but knowing as much as I do about music education and children’s development, I feel like I would be an abusive father to not let them do music.” Wiprud’s two children—Allegra, 13 and Marlon, 10—both study the guitar. Allegra also sings and recently retired from the New York City Opera, where she sang in the children’s choir until she became too tall.

During the memorial service for the Class of 1980, Allegra and her mother will join Wiprud and other members of the class in singing in the choir.

—Staff writer Lulu Zhou can be reached at luluzhou@fas.harvard.