Justin Weiss

Justin Weiss is a composer and conductor whose music has been described as “lush, colorful” (Cleveland Classical) and full of “rustling energy” (Hyde Park Herald). His music explores the perception of time, energy, and transformation through textural play and melodically driven lyricism. Much of Justin’s recent work has been focused on the relationship between visual arts and sound. Justin’s work has been recognized with a Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Prix Langage Musical from Les Écoles d’Art Américaines de Fontainebleau, the Walter E. Aschaffenburg, and awards and recognitions from institutions such as ASCAP, Society of Composers, Inc., and The American Prize, Tribeca New Music, and YoungArts.

Justin’s music has been performed internationally by ensembles including Quatuor Diotima, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Grossman Ensemble, TAK Ensemble, ~Nois Saxophone Quartet, Ekmeles Vocal Ensemble, and Sandbox Percussion Quartet. Justin is the co-executive/artistic director and conductor of new Chicago-based contemporary music ensemble, Mycelium New Music, as well as the co-director of the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble and has premiered dozens of pieces internationally. Justin studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and is a PhD Candidate at the University of Chicago where he studies with Augusta Read Thomas.