Aaron Jay Kernis

Pulitzer Prize-Winning American Composer

Aaron Jay Kernis is an American composer born on January 15, 1960, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is recognized for his richly colored and intricately detailed orchestral and chamber works. Kernis achieved early success with his orchestral work "musica instrumentalis," which won the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition in 1998. He has received numerous other accolades throughout his career, including the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1998 for his String Quartet No. 2 ("musica instrumentalis"). His compositions have been performed by major orchestras and chamber ensembles around the world, reflecting a wide range of styles and influences.