Aaron Jay Kernis

Aaron Jay Kernis, born January 15, 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the most highly-honored contemporary composers. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory, and Yale University, under

Aaron Jay Kernis, born January 15, 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the most highly-honored contemporary composers. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory, and Yale University, under John Adams, Jacob Druckman, Morton Subotnick and Charles Wuorinen.

Notable works include the New Era Dance, his second string quartet musica instrumentalis (which won the 1998 Pulitzer prize), Colored Field for English horn and orchestra, and Symphony in Waves.