Billy Childs has emerged as one of the foremost American composers of his era marrying the musical 

products of his heritage with the Western neoclassical traditions of the 20th century in a powerful 

symbiosis of style, range, and dynamism. Thus far in his career, Childs has garnered 13 GRAMMY 

nominations and four awards while working with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Wayne 

Shorter, Dianne Reeves, & Esperanza Spaulding.  His works include commissions from the Los 

Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony, the Kronos Quartet, the American Brass Quintet, and 

the Lincoln Center Jazz Orch. amongst others.  Billy was recently named President of Chamber Music 

America and is the recipient of awards from the Guggenheim & Doris Duke Foundations as well as 

the American Academy of Arts & Letters.