Biographical information
SPENCER HUFFMAN was born in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas and moved to Baltimore, Maryland at the age of six. He was self-taught in piano and composition until the age of 18. In 1940, he won the Boise composition scholarship to Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. The summer of 1941 was spent at Boston Symphony's Tanglewood Music Festival, studying with Aaron Copeland. In the same year, he was awarded a private scholarship with Nadia Boulanger. From 1942 until his discharge in 1945, Huffman served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Following his service, he returned to complete his scholarship at Peabody, graduating in 1947. Huffman joined the Peabody composition faculty in 1949.
Huffman left Peabody in 1956 to compose music full time. He continued to compose and teach music composition privately in Bethesda and Silver Spring, Maryland until his death in December, 2005.
Huffman left Peabody in 1956 to compose music full time. He continued to compose and teach music composition privately in Bethesda and Silver Spring, Maryland until his death in December, 2005.