John Adams was born in Massachusetts in 1947. He is the composer of numerous acclaimed works, including
Harmonielehre,
Nixon in China,
Naive and Sentimental Music,
El Niño,
The Death of Klinghoffer,
The Gospel According to the Other Mary and a memorial for the victims of September 11,
On The Transmigration of Souls, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2003. He lives in Berkeley, California.