Ned Rorem

Ned Miller Rorem (October 23, 1923 – November 18, 2022) was an American composer of contemporary classical music and a writer. He is best known for his extensive production of over 500 art songs, making him a leading American in the genre. Heavily influenced by French music, Rorem was mentored by Aaron Copland and Virgil Thomson and spent significant time in Morocco and Paris. His works received numerous commissions, and for the American Bicentennial, he created seven works including Air Music which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Rorem spent much of his life with his partner, James Holmes, and became a respected educator at the Curtis Institute with students like Daron Hagen and Jennifer Higdon.