Biography

Several times I wrote “Wow!” next to a work being played.

–Peter Jacobi, Herald Times

Composer Justin Merritt is the winner of a host of other awards including the McKnight Fellowship, the Copland Award, and the Polyphonos Prize and was the youngest-ever winner of the ASCAP Foundation Rudolph Nissim Award. His music has been played by the Minnesota Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, and on A Prairie Home Companion. His textbook Comprehensive Aural Skills co-written with David Castro, is among the best-selling textbooks in its area. 

He received his Bachelors from Trinity University and his Masters and Doctorate from Indiana University. He studied composition with Samuel Adler, Sven-David Sandstrom, Claude Baker, Timothy Kramer, Don Freund, and electronic and computer music with Jeffrey Hass. He is Professor of Music at St. Olaf College. He resides in Lonsdale, Minnesota with his wife Faye and their children Cullen  and Molly.