Jake Runestad (born 20 May 1986) is an American composer and

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Music * Conductor (music), a person who leads a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra. * ''Conductor'' (album), an album by indie rock band The Comas * Conduction, a type of structured free improvisation ...

of classical music based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has composed music for a wide variety of musical

genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other ...

s and ensembles, but has achieved greatest acclaim for his work in the genres of

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libre ...

, orchestral music,

choral music A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...

, and

wind ensemble A concert band, also called a wind band, wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind orchestra, symphonic band, the symphonic winds, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of members of the woodwind, brass, and percussion famil ...

. One of his principal collaborators for musical texts has been the poet

Todd Boss Todd (Ryan) Boss (born December 6, 1968) is an American poet, installation artist, and film producer, and inventor based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has published several collections of poetry and contributed to literary journals. He has also ...

Biography

Runestad was born in Rockford, Illinois. His

post-secondary Tertiary education, also referred to as third-level, third-stage or post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank, for example, defines tertiary education as including univers ...

education in music began at

Eastern Illinois University Eastern Illinois University is a public university in Charleston, Illinois. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a co ...

, which he attended in the years 2004 and 2005. He received his first degree in music (a B.S. in Music Education) from

Winona State University Winona State University (Winona) is a public university in Winona, Minnesota. It was founded as First State Normal School of Minnesota in 1858 and is the oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. It was the first no ...

, which he attended from 2005 until 2009, then pursued graduate studies at the

Peabody Conservatory The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University is a private conservatory and preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded in 1857 and opened in 1866 by merchant/financier and philanthropist George Peabody (1795–186 ...

of the

Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hemisphere. It consiste ...

between 2009 and 2011 to earn a M.Mus. degree in music composition. In 2020, he was a recipient of an Outstanding Recent Graduate Award from these institutions. His teachers at the Peabody Conservatory included Kevin Puts. He has also studied with the composer Libby Larsen and worked with Bernard Rands, David Lang, Tania León, John Musto, Christopher Rouse, Jake Heggie, and John Duffy. He received a Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Winona State University in 2016.

Awards and activities

Runestad has received awards for his compositions from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the American Composers Forum, the

New Music USA New Music USA is a new music organization formed by the merging of the American Music Center with Meet The Composer on November 8, 2011. The new organization retains the granting programs of the two former organizations as well as two media program ...

, the Otto Bremmer Foundation, VocalEssence, the Virginia Arts Festival, the National Association for Music Education, the Association for Lutheran Church Musicians, and the

American Choral Directors Association The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music. Its membership comprises approximately 22,000 ...

of Minnesota, and has received commissions for his musical works from the Washington National Opera, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra,

Seraphic Fire Seraphic Fire is a professional vocal ensemble in the United States, led by Artistic Director Patrick Dupré Quigley and Executive Director Rhett M. Del Campo, and based in Miami. Seraphic Fire's repertoire includes Gregorian chants, Baroque ma ...

, the

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) is a fully professional musical group in Dayton, Ohio, formed in 1933. It is a member of the League of American Orchestras (LAO) and the Regional Orchestra Players' Association (ROPA), and presents programs ...

, the Virginia Arts Festival, the

Rockford Symphony Orchestra The Rockford Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra in Rockford, Illinois, USA. Now in its 80th season, the orchestra is the third largest orchestra in the state of Illinois. History The Rockford Symphony Orchestra, incorporated in 1943, be ...

, the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Spire Chamber Ensemble, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, and Craig Hella Johnson and Conspirare. He was also chosen as a Composer in residence for the 2015–2016 season of

Choral Arts Choral Arts is an American choir, based in Seattle, Washington, performing under the direction of conductor and artistic director Robert Bode. Choral Arts comprises volunteer singers drawn exclusively from the Seattle region who combine a deep ...

. In 2016, he was a recipient of the Morton Gould Young Composer Award from the ASCAP Foundation in recognition of his composition ''

Dreams of the Fallen ''Dreams of the Fallen'' is a choral symphony-concerto for solo piano, SATB chorus, and orchestra with music by the composer Jake Runestad set to texts of the poet Brian Turner, a veteran of the Iraq War. The work was first performed on Vetera ...

''. In May 2017, he was awarded a McKnight Fellowship for Composers (funded by the McKnight Foundation). and was awarded the 2019 Raymond W. Brock Commission of the American Choral Directors Association, in this case for the composition "A Silence Haunts Me." Runestad's compositions have received notices in the

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

, a contribution to the Huffington Post blog, and other newspapers. Runestad is a member of the Program Council for

. His music has been published by

Boosey & Hawkes Boosey & Hawkes is a British music publisher purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and woodwind musical instruments. Formed in 1930 throu ...

and JR Music. The first recording devoted solely to the music of Jake Runestad, ''The Hope of Loving: Choral Music of Jake Runestad'', was released by

Delos Productions Delos Productions is an American record label. Long in Los Angeles but now headquartered in Sonoma, California, it specializes in classical music. The Delos label was founded in 1973 by Amelia S. Haygood (1919–2007), whose stewardship of the com ...

in 2019. The recording features fourteen compositions performed by the choral ensemble Conspirare of

Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...

, conducted by Craig Hella Johnson. Later that year, the recording was nominated for a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

for Best Choral Performance. In 2020,

Naxos Records Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about ...

released the album ''Sing, Wearing the Sky'', a collection of 10 choral compositions by Runestad performed by the Kantorei choir of

Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the United ...

conducted by Joel Rinsema. Runestad's ''Earth Symphony'' (2022) has been awarded an Emmy in the category musical composition.

''Dreams of the Fallen''

Veterans Day Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holidays in the United States, federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring Veteran, military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who ...

, 11 November 2013, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, and pianist Jeffrey Biegel, under the direction of

James Paul James Paul may refer to: * James Paul (conductor) (born 1940), American conductor * James Paul (footballer) (fl. 1930s), Scottish footballer * James A. Paul (born 1941), American writer and non-profit executive * James Balfour Paul (1846–1931), ...

, presented Runestad's ''

'', a work for piano, orchestra, and chorus at the National World War II Museum."World Premier! - Dreams of the Fallen"
Piano World, ''In-Tune''. October 2013. The work features the poetry of

Iraq War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق ( Kurdish) , partof = the Iraq conflict and the War on terror , image ...

veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that h ...

Brian Turner"Composer Jake Runestad's Dreams of the Fallen -- A Veterans Day Happening at the National WWII Museum"
Sean Martinfield, ''HuffPost Arts & Culture''. November 8, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2014. and explores a soldier's emotional response to the experience of war. ''Dreams of the Fallen'' was commissioned by a consortium including the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, the

and Chorus, the

and Chorus, the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, and the Virginia Arts Festival."Dreams of the Fallen, Participating Ensembles"
. Retrieved May 12, 2014. It received its

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...

premiere with the West Point Glee Club and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony at Carnegie Hall on 19 November 2016, conducted by David Bernard. His "Dreams of the Fallen" for chorus, orchestra and solo piano was premiered by the Chicago Composers Orchestra in 2018 on the 100th anniversary of the armistice of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

. An

audio recording Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording ...

of a 2015 performance of ''Dreams of the Fallen'' in St. Paul, Minnesota, was broadcast nationwide on 29 May 2017 (

Memorial Day Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monda ...

) through the

National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from othe ...

network.

Discography

* "I Will Lift Mine Eyes" on ''Seraphic Fire''.

Patrick Dupré Quigley Patrick Dupré Quigley is an American conductor, producer, and arranger. Quigley is Founder and Artistic Director of Seraphic Fire and Artistic Director Designate of Opera Lafayette. Quigley has focused on the music of the Classical and Baroque ...

, conductor. ℗ 2013 Seraphic Fire Media. * "Nada Te Turbe" on ''Sheer Grace'', National Lutheran Choir. David Cherwien, conductor. ℗ 2013 The National Lutheran Choir."National Lutheran Choir, Sheer Grace"
Retrieved May 12, 2014. *"Fear Not, Dear Friend" on ''Reincarnations''.

, conductor. ℗ 2014 Seraphic Fire Media. *"I Will Lift Mine Eyes" on ''Look Up and See''. Sounding Light. Tom Trenney, conductor. ℗ 2014. * "Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep" on ''Candlelight Carols''.

, conductor. ℗ 2014 Seraphic Fire Media."Seraphic Fire, Recordings"
Retrieved November 12, 2014. *"Let My Love Be Heard" on ''Carol of the Angels'', Choral Arts Northwest. Robert Bode, conductor. ℗ 2016 Choral Arts Northwest."Choral Arts Northwest store"
Retrieved May 7, 2018. *"Reflections" on ''The Road Home'',

Santa Fe Desert Chorale The Santa Fe Desert Chorale is a 24-voice professional choir in Santa Fe, New Mexico which was founded in 1982. History The Santa Fe Desert Chorale was founded in 1982 by artistic director Lawrence Bandfield. He chose Santa Fe with the belief t ...

. Joshua Habermann, conductor. ℗ 2016

Chandos Records Chandos Records is a British independent classical music recording company based in Colchester. It was founded in 1979 by Brian Couzens."Chandos Records"
Retrieved May 7, 2018. *"The Hope of Loving" on ''Light of the Midnight Sun'', Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. James Bass, conductor. ℗ 2018 The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay.
Retrieved May 7, 2018. *"Let My Love Be Heard" on ''Enchanted Isle'', VOCES8. ℗ 2019

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American Decca's president. ...

. *''The Hope of Loving: Choral Works of Jake Runestad'', ℗ 2019

. *''Sing, Wearing the Sky'', ℗ 2020

Principal Compositions

Listings and information about Jake Runestad's compositions are found on the composer's website. Operas *''The Toll'' (2010), premiered at the Peabody Conservatory, Friedberg Hall, 4 May 2010. *''The Abbess and the Acolyte'' (2011), premiered at the Virginia Arts Festival, 12 June 2011. *''Daughters of the Bloody Duke'' (2014), premiered at the Washington National Opera on 21 November 2014. Orchestral Works *"As Rain to the Sea" (2010, soprano soloist with orchestra) *"Mechanical Minds" (2011) *"World on Fire" (2019), commissioned by the Oregon Coast Music Festival,

, conductor Choir and Orchestra *"Dreams of the Fallen" (2013, solo piano, chorus, and orchestra) *"Climb" (2017, chorus and orchestra), text by Todd Boss *"Ave Verum" (2017, SATB and string orchestra), first performed 23 April 2017 at the

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

, Washington, DC, with the Choral Arts Society of Washington, Scott Tucker, conductor, text by Todd Boss *"Into the Light" (2017, SATB chorus and orchestra), commissioned by

Valparaiso University Valparaiso University (Valpo) is a private university in Valparaiso, Indiana. It is a Lutheran university with about 3,000 students from over 50 countries on a campus of . Originally named Valparaiso Male and Female College, Valparaiso Universi ...

to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the

Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and i ...

, first performed at the Thomaskirche in

Leipzig Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as ...

and the

Castle Church in Wittenberg All Saints' Church, commonly referred to as ''Schlosskirche'' (Castle Church) to distinguish it from the '' Stadtkirche'' (Town Church) of St. Mary's – and sometimes known as the Reformation Memorial Church – is a Lutheran church in Wittenberg, ...

with the Leipzig Baroque Orchestra and Valparaiso University Chorale, Christopher Cock, conductor *"Proud Music of the Storm" (2017, SATB chorus and orchestra), commissioned by the

Dallas Symphony Chorus The Dallas Symphony Chorus (DSC), is the official vocal ensemble of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. For more than 45 years, the all-volunteer chorus has supported classical and pops performances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, as well as appe ...

, Joshua Habermann, conductor *''Earth Symphony'' (2022, SATB chorus and orchestra), commissioned by True Concord Voices & Orchestra, Eric Holtan, conductor, text by Todd Boss
website for Runestad's ''Earth Symphony''. Choir and Instrumental Ensemble *"We Can Mend the Sky" (2014, SATB and percussion) *"The Hope of Loving" (2015, SATB, soprano, tenor, baritone, and string quartet), commissioned by Seraphic Fire *"One Flock" (2016, SATB, soloists, piano, and percussion), commissioned by Schola Cantorum on Hudson, Deborah Simpkin King, conductor, text by Todd Boss *"The Secret of the Sea" (2018, SATB divisi, piano, percussion, & string quintet), commissioned by Craig Hella Johnson and KI Concerts *“As Long As We Are Here” (2020, SATB choir, string orchestra, and piano), commissioned by Brett Karlin and the Master Chorale of South Florida, text by Todd Boss *"Cello Songs" (2020, SATB choir, cello, and piano), commissioned by the St. Charles Singers, texts by Todd Boss *"The Way of the Stars" (2020, SATB choir, percussion, piano), commissioned by the Atlanta Master Chorale, Eric Nelson (musician), Eric Nelson, conductor, texts by Maria Mitchell *"El último hilo" (2021, SATB choir, marimba, and string quartet), commissioned by the Kantorei (Denver) and Vocalis (Guatemala), texts by

Humberto Ak'abal Humberto is a Portuguese and Spanish masculine given name of Germanic origin. It may refer to: *Humberto Aguilar Coronado *Humberto Ak'ab'al *Humberto Albiñana * Humberto Albornoz *Humberto Alonso Morelli * Humberto Alonso Razo *Humberto Andrade Q ...

Choir and Piano *"The King of Love" (2013, SATB and piano) *"None Other Lamb" (2013, SATB and piano) *"Peace Flows Into Me" (2013, SATB and piano) *"The Peace of Wild Things" (2014, SATB and piano) *"Good Night, My Love" (2015, SATB and piano), commissioned by Marietta College, text by

Paul Lawrence Dunbar Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Dayton, Ohio, to parents who had been Slavery in the United States, enslaved in K ...

*"Come to the Woods" (2015, SATB and piano), commissioned by Craig Hella Johnson and Conspirare *"Waves" (2015, SSAATTBB and piano), commissioned by Robert Istad and California State University, Fullerton, text by Todd Boss *"Reflections" (2016, SATB and piano), commissioned by the

*"Please Stay" (2016, SATB and piano) *"Rise Up" (2016, SSAA and piano), commissioned by the

*"American Triptych": I. Reflections; II. The Peace of Wild Things; III. Come to the Woods (2016, SATB and piano) *"Winter Stars" (2017), commissioned by the

University of Montana The University of Montana (UM) is a public research university in Missoula, Montana. UM is a flagship institution of the Montana University System and its second largest campus. UM reported 10,962 undergraduate and graduate students in the fal ...

, David Edmonds, conductor *"A Silence Haunts Me" (2018, SATB and piano), commissioned by the

and the Raymond C. Brock Foundation, text by Todd Boss *"An die Musik" (2019), commissioned by Lorelee Wederstrom and Unity Church-Unitarian,

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center ...

, in honor of Ruth Palmer *"Your Soul Is Song" (2019), commissioned by Choirs of America for a premiere at Carnegie Hall Unaccompanied Choir *"Nyon Nyon" (2006, SATB) *"I Will Lift Mine Eyes" (2006, SATB), performed before

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

at the

Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel (; la, Sacellum Sixtinum; it, Cappella Sistina ) is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the pope in Vatican City. Originally known as the ''Cappella Magna'' ('Great Chapel'), the chapel takes its nam ...

Vatican City Vatican City (), officially the Vatican City State ( it, Stato della Città del Vaticano; la, Status Civitatis Vaticanae),—' * german: Vatikanstadt, cf. '—' (in Austria: ') * pl, Miasto Watykańskie, cf. '—' * pt, Cidade do Vati ...

, on 20 November 2016 *"Fear Not, Dear Friend" (2012, SATB or TTBB), commissioned by Seraphic Fire *"Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep" (2012, SATB), commissioned by Seraphic Fire *"Nada Te Turbe" (2012, SATB), commissioned by Seraphic Fire *"Alleluia" (2013, SATB) *"Spirited Light" (2014, SATB) *"Why the Caged Bird Sings" (2014, SATB), commissioned by Craig Hella Johnson and the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble *"Let My Love Be Heard" (2014, SATB), commissioned by

, text by Alfred Noyes *"Ner Ner" (2014, SATB), commissioned by the College of Wooster’s Wooster Chorus *"Gaelic Prayer" (2015, SATB) *"And So I Go On" (2015, SSAATTBB), commissioned by Jonathan Talberg and Edith Copley in memory of German Aguilar, first performance by the

Bob Cole Conservatory of Music The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music is the school of music at California State University, Long Beach. In March 2008, the music department was renamed the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music in honor of an endowment gift of $16.4 million from the estate ...

Chamber Choir at California State University, Long Beach, text by Todd Boss *"All the World’s A Stage" (2015, SATB), commissioned by the

University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a performing and media arts college of the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. Initially established as the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 1867, CCM is one of the ...

, texts by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

*"Live the Questions" (2016, SATB), commissioned by Choral Arts Northwest *"Give Me Hunger" (2018, SATB), commissioned by a consortium of university choirs *"Love after Love" (2019, SATB), commissioned by Michael McGaghie for the

Macalester College Macalester College () is a private liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1874, Macalester is exclusively an undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 2,174 students in the fall of 2018 from 50 U.S. states, four U.S t ...

Concert Choir *"Elegy" (2020, SATB with Soprano and Baritone soloists), commissioned by John Byun and the Riverside City College Chamber Singers for a performance at the 2020 American Choral Directors Association Western Region Conference *Fireflies" (2020, SATB choir), commissioned by the Iowa Choral Directors Association Jazz Ensemble *"Home" (2008) Wind Ensemble *"Catalyst" (2007) *"Let My Love Be Heard" (2018) *"Rivers of Air" (2018), commissioned by a consortium of seventeen North American university wind ensembles *"Ascent" (2019), commissioned by Scott Stewart and the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony Voice and Chamber Ensemble *"Under the Harvest Moon" (2009, soprano, cello, and piano) *"The Soul, Like the Moon" (2011, soprano and Pierrot ensemble)

References

External links

Jake Runestad websiteJake Runestad's Youtube channelBoosey & Hawkes websiteWashington National Opera websiteJake Runestad biography on IMDb website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Runestad, Jake 1986 births Living people American male classical composers American classical composers 21st-century classical composers American opera composers Male opera composers Writers from Rockford, Illinois Winona State University alumni Peabody Institute alumni Musicians from Rockford, Illinois 21st-century American composers Classical musicians from Illinois 21st-century American male musicians