Ned Rorem was a prominent American composer and diarist, widely regarded as one of the great masters of the art song. Born in Richmond, Indiana, he studied at Northwestern University, the Curtis Institute, and Juilliard before spending several years in France. His prolific output includes hundreds of songs, orchestral works, and operas, earning him a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1976 for his suite 'Air Music'. Rorem was also a celebrated author, known for his candid and often controversial published diaries that provided a vivid glimpse into the cultural life of his time.