Tan Dun

Born: August 18, 1957, in Simao, Hunan, China; currently resides in New York City

Education: Beijing Central Conservatory; later received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Columbia University (New York)

Best known for: use of natural elements such as water, ceramic, paper and stone as important instruments in compositions; Tan Dun’s universal appeal is due, in large part, to his unique and effectual blend of the best of Western and Eastern musical traditions.

Conducting appearances: the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, BBC Symphony, London Sinfonietta, National Orchestra de France, National Orchestre de Lyon and the NHK Symphony of Japan, among others

Awards and honors: a Grammy® and Academy Award®; Musical America’s “Composer of the Year”; the Grawemeyer Award for Classical Composition; the Glenn Gould Prize (nominated by composer Toru Takemitsu); the Munich International Music Theatre Award (nominated by Hans Werner Henze)

Assignments: 1999, music director of the Tanglewood Contemporary Music Festival; 2000, artistic director of Barbican Centre’s International Festival; currently music director of the multimedia festival for Orchestre de la Radio Flamande

Current commissions: a new work for James Levine and the Metropolitan Opera (New York) to premiere in 2007, in addition to a new work for Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic

Award-winning recordings: a Grammy and Academy Award for the score to Crouching Tiger; Hidden Dragon; Best CD of Contemporary Music from Japan’s Recording Academy Awards for Water Passion after St. Matthew; Best Orchestral Album from the BBC for Death and Fire

Notable compositions: Death and Fire: Dialogue with Paul Klee, 1992 Ghost Opera for string quartet and pipa (with water, stone, paper and metal), 1994 Silk Road for soprano and percussion, 1989 A Child’s Diary (six pieces for piano solo), 1978 Heaven Earth Mankind (“Symphony 1997”) for cello, bells, children’s chorus, CD player and orchestra, 1997 The Intercourse of Fire and Water for cello and orchestra, 1993