Steve Heitzeg

Steve Heitzeg (born October 15, 1959) is an American composer whose works include compositions for orchestra, chorus, chamber ensemble, ballet, and film.

He is well known for themes of environmentalism and social justice in his work, which often incorporates unusual instrumentation with ecological or thematic resonance to the work at hand, such as stones, driftwood, and whale bones. He has written more than 150 compositions since the late 1970s,including the award-winning On the Day You Were Born, his 2001 Nobel Symphonyand soundtracks including the PBS films Death of the Dream (which won an Upper Midwest Emmy Award) and A Marriage: Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz.

Heitzeg's music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles across the US and Europe, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Houston Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Auckland Philharmonia, Florida Orchestra, Dale Warland Singers, VocalEssence and James Sewell Ballet. His works have been performed by conductors including Marin Alsop, Philip Brunelle, Michael Butterman, William Eddins, JoAnn Falletta, Joseph Giunta, Giancarlo Guerrero, Sarah Hicks, Jahja Ling, Lawrence Renes, Christopher Seaman, Mischa Santora, André Raphel Smith, Joseph Silverstein, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Osmo Vänskä and Dale Warland.