Jad Abumrad

Jad Abumrad is the host and creator of Radiolab (http://radiolab.org), which reaches roughly 7 million people per month. He’s been called a “master of the radio craft” for his unique ability to combine cutting edge sound-design, cinematic storytelling and a personal approach to explaining complex topics, from the stochasticity of tumor cells to the mathematics of morality. Jad studied creative writing and music composition at Oberlin College in Ohio. He composes much of the music for Radiolab, and in the past has composed music for film, theater and dance.

Radiolab has received multiple Peabody Awards (2011 & 2015), the highest honor in broadcasting. And in 2011 Jad received the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship.

Grammy-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre is one of the most popular musicians of our time. His concert music has been performed throughout the world by millions of amateur and professional musicians alike, while his ground-breaking Virtual Choirs have united singers from over 110 different countries. A graduate of The Juilliard School of Music, Eric was recently appointed Artist in Residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, having completed a five-year term as Composer in Residence at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University, UK.

As conductor of the Eric Whitacre Singers, he has released several chart-topping albums including Light and Gold (2011). A sought-after guest conductor, Eric has conducted choral and instrumental concerts around the globe, including sold-out concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. In addition to several collaborations with legendary Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer, he has worked with British pop icons Laura Mvula, Imogen Heap and Annie Lennox.

A charismatic speaker, Eric has given keynote addresses for many Fortune 500 companies and global institutions including Apple, Google, the World Economic Forum in Davos, the United Nations Speaker’s Programme and two main stage TED talks.

Now an established composer on the contemporary music scene, Missy Mazzoli’s talent draws audiences equally into concert halls and rock clubs. Her unique music reflects a trend among composers of her generation who combine styles, writing music for the omnivorous audiences of the 21st century.

Recently deemed “one of the more consistently inventive, surprising composers now working in New York” by The New York Times, and “Brooklyn’s post-millennial Mozart” by Time Out New York, her music has been performed all over the world by the Kronos Quartet, JACK Quartet, eighth blackbird, LA Opera, Roomful of Teeth, Crash Ensemble, Britten Sinfonia, Detroit Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Opera Philadelphia, New York City Opera, pianist Emanuel Ax, cellist Maya Beiser, violinist Jennifer Koh, and many others.

Jeffrey Zeigler is one of the most versatile cellists of our time. Known for his independent streak, he has commissioned dozens of works, and is admired as a potent collaborator and unique improviser. Described as “fiery”, and a player who performs “with unforced simplicity and beauty of tone” by The New York Times, he has given many notable premieres including works by John Adams, Damon Albarn, Derek Charke, John Corigliano, Henryk Gorecki, John King, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, and John Zorn, to name a few. His collaborations include Andy Akiho, Laurie Anderson, Nora Chipaumire, Helga Davis, Philip Glass, Hauschka, Magos Herrera, Vijay Iyer, Glenn Kotche, David Krakauer, Hafez Modirzadeh, Kimmo Pohjonen, Gyan Riley, Netsayi and Black Pressure, and Tom Waits.

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City® is an award-winning, multicultural youth chorus internationally renowned not only for its superb virtuosity and brilliant showmanship, but also as a model for an inclusive society that is being replicated globally. Founded in 1988 by Artistic Director Francisco J. Núñez, a MacArthur Fellow, this groundbreaking program harnesses the power of music to fulfill the potential of every child musically, academically, and socially and has established the youth chorus as an important instrument for making music. YPC has expanded and invigorated the repertoire for young voices with more than 100 compositions commissioned from today’s most distinguished composers and continues to play an important role in the ever-evolving fabric of music in the 21st century. More than 1,600 children of all cultural and economic backgrounds participate in the YPC program, which has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the 2017 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence and America’s highest honor for youth programs, a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. www.ypc.org

Elizabeth Núñez is the Associate Artistic Director of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, renowned worldwide for its diversity and supreme level of artistic excellence.  At YPC she created and directs YPC’s acclaimed Cantare chorus and serves as vocal coach for over 400 children in YPC’s after-school performance program.  Elizabeth is also the director of YPC’s School Choruses program, which brings YPC’s unique music education program to an additional 1,100 children annually in 16 New York City public schools.  In 2014, Elizabeth created WIT: Women Inspiring Tomorrow, a mentoring initiative, bringing YPC’s high school girls together with its alumnae and women across varying professions.  Since joining YPC in 2004, Elizabeth has led YPC choristers in New York City’s most prestigious venues, from Carnegie Hall to the Apollo Theatre, and at international choral festivals and competitions on four continents.  In 2015 she helped lead YPC to five gold medals at the Golden Gate International Choral Festival.  Elizabeth is also the Founding Artistic Director of SoHarmoniums, an intergenerational women’s community chorus based in New York’s SoHo neighborhood and is sought after as a choral clinician for workshops and as a conductor throughout the country.