Jennifer Higdon, spent her formative years outside of Knoxville in Maryville, and now lives in Chapel Hill, NC, where she makes her living from writing music. Her works have been awarded a Pulitzer Prize and 3 Grammys. 

Jennifer has been commissioned by a wide range of performers: from the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony, to The President’s Own U.S. Marine Band; from the Tokyo String Quartet to Eighth Blackbird, as well as individual artists such as mandolin player, Avi Avital, violinists Hilary Hahn and Joshua Bell, and pianist Yuja Wang. 

Her first opera on Charles Frazier’s book, “Cold Mountain”, sold out all of its performances in Santa Fe, North Carolina and Philadelphia, and went on to win the International Opera Award. The recording of her Percussion Concerto, with the London Philharmonic, was recently added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. 

With over 250 performances a year, she has served as composer-in-residence with various orchestras, festivals, and universities around the world (including UT). Jennifer’s pieces are recorded on over 100 recordings. For more information visit www.jenniferhigdon.com.