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John Aylward is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1966 in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Aylward began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and guitar. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. After completing his undergraduate studies, Aylward went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from the Yale School of Music. He then pursued a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of California, Berkeley. During his time at Berkeley, Aylward studied with renowned composers such as Edmund Campion, Jorge Liderman, and Cindy Cox. Aylward's music is known for its complexity and experimentation with sound. He often incorporates electronic elements into his compositions, creating a unique blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. His works have been performed by numerous ensembles and orchestras, including the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, and the Arditti Quartet. One of Aylward's most notable works is his opera, "Angelus Novus," which was commissioned by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and premiered in 2016. The opera is based on the writings of philosopher Walter Benjamin and explores themes of history, memory, and the passage of time. The music is a blend of acoustic and electronic sounds, with the use of live electronics and pre-recorded soundscapes. Another notable work by Aylward is his piece, "Syllepsis," which was commissioned by the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and premiered in 2012. The piece is scored for chamber ensemble and electronics and explores the concept of syllepsis, which is a figure of speech where a word is used in two different senses in the same sentence. The music is characterized by its intricate rhythms and use of extended techniques. Aylward's music has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2017, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition. He has also received awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Fromm Music Foundation, and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music. In addition to his work as a composer, Aylward is also a professor of music at the University of California, San Diego. He has taught composition and electronic music at various institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the New England Conservatory of Music. Overall, John Aylward is a highly regarded contemporary classical music composer known for his experimentation with sound and use of electronic elements. His works have been performed by numerous ensembles and orchestras, and he has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field of music.

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