Jennifer Higdon

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but raised in the South, Dr. Jennifer Higdon received a Bachelor of Music from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, a Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music in 1988, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition she has studied conducting with Robert Spano and flute with Judith Bentley.

She is the recipient of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her Violin Concerto, a 2009 Grammy Award (Best New Contemporary Classical Recording) for her Percussion Concerto, a Guggenheim Fellowship, Pew Fellowship, and awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Her works are performed around the world, with commissions coming from a variety of ensembles and individuals, such as the Philadelphia and Minnesota orchestras; the Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis, National, and Toronto symphony orchestras; St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; Gary Graffman; Hilary Hahn; the President's Own Marine Band; Tokyo String Quartet; Philadelphia Singers; Mendelssohn Club; eighth blackbird; and San Francisco Opera.

She has works on dozens of recordings, including the Grammy-winning Higdon: Concerto for Orchestra/City Scape.

Dr. Higdon joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music in 1994.