CALARTS' STEPHEN MOSKO DIES HE COMPOSED, TAUGHT MUSICIANS.

Byline: Daily News

GREEN VALLEY - Composer and performer Stephen Mosko, a faculty member at California Institute of the Arts, died this week of unknown causes. He was 58.

Mosko died at home in Green Valley, north of Santa Clarita. He is survived by his wife, renowned flutist Dorothy Stone.

``First as a graduate student and later as a faculty member, Stephen ``Lucky'' Mosko was the embodiment of the joy, adventure and pure fun of new music. For three decades, he brought that experience to students at CalArts and audiences around the world,'' said Steven D. Lavine, CalArts president.

``Lucky was a visionary artist and magnanimous colleague who will be greatly missed by the entire CalArts community. His contributions in CalArts School of Music have guided generations of students to cross and transcend boundaries in music. His own extraordinary work will be remembered for its embodiment of creative adventure.''

David Rosenboom, dean of CalArts' School of Music, said his friend and colleague lived a life ``celebrating the art of music-making.''

``Lucky had an unswerving tenacity in upholding the values of creative risk-taking, and a huge heart always open to his friends, students and creative comrades. He spent many, many years devoted to the mission of CalArts and the betterment of our students. His life benefited all of ours as well.''

Mosko was born in 1947 in Denver, where his early musical education was fostered by conductor Antonia Brico. He received his bachelor's degree magna cum laude in 1969 from Yale University and his master's in 1972 from CalArts.

In 1972, he became a member of the composition faculty at CalArts, where he continued to teach for 34 years.

Mosko's compositions have been performed by the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Sacramento Symphony, SONOR, California EAR Unit, Monday Evening Concerts, Group for New Music of New York, the Aspen Festival Orchestra, the New York New Music Ensemble, La Camerata of Mexico, and at the Ojai, Tanglewood and June in Buffalo festivals. Mosko was music director of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players for 10 years and was principal conductor of the Griffin Ensemble of Boston. He was music director of the Chicago Contemporary Players. He has been guest conductor on numerous occasions with the San Francisco Symphony and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Aside from his wife, Mosko is survived by his father Aaron Mosko of Denver and his brother and his sister-in-law, Martin and Alex Mosko of Boulder, Colo.