Darin Atwater is a critically acclaimed composer, conductor, pianist, producer, entrepreneur, educator, and arts advocate. Twenty years ago, he founded the Soulful Symphony, a Maryland-based symphony orchestra featuring predominantly African American and Latino members. Atwater has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and more. In 2018, Atwater was commissioned by the Mann Center and The Philadelphia Orchestra to compose South Side, Symphonic Dances, an adaptation of West Side Story for the Leonard Bernstein Centennial.