Ned Rorem is a Pulitzer-winning composer who has written over 500 works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, and voice. He is best known for his song cycles and operas, and he has also written several books of poetry and prose. He has received numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1976 for his orchestral work 'Air Music'. He has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.