Born in Berlin in 1922, Lucas Foss came to the United States in 1937 to study at the Curtis Institute of Music from which he graduated with honors at age 18. He has composed works in many different styles from avant-garde to neiclassical. As a conductor he has served as Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Milwaukee Symphony as well as being guest conductor for many of the world's major orchestras.