John Harbison

John Harbison (born 1938 in Orange, NJ), one of the outstanding American composers of his generation, won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1987 for his cantata The Flight into Egypt. His music reflects a variety of influences, from 20th century techniques to American popular music. He has written in virtually every genre, but a large number of his works are for voice. His major works include Mirabai Songs, his first Piano Sonata, Mottetti di Montale, and The Great Gatsby, produced by the Metropolitan Opera. He is also active as a teacher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and as a conductor.