William Jay Sydeman was born in New York in 1928 and educated at Manhattan’s Mannes School of Music.  He has become one of the most sought-after and honored composers of his generation, receiving commissions and awards from such prestigious groups as the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Library of Congress, the Tanglewood Music Center, and the Boston Symphony.  In 1970, Sydeman left New York - and composition - to begin a journey of personal and artistic exploration that lasted a decade. In 1981, William returned to composition as the defining aspect of his life.  Since moving to Nevada City in 1988, Sydeman has enriched the community with the beauty and richness of his work.