George Tsontakis has been the recipient of the two of the most prestigious prizes awarded in all of classical music: the 2005 Grawemeyer Award, and the 2007 Ives Living Award, given every three years by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Born in Astoria, NY into a strongly Cretan heritage, he has, in recent years, become an important figure in the music of Greece. His music is increasingly performed abroad, with dozens of performances in Europe every season. Recordings of his music on the Hyperion and Koch have been twice received Grammy® nominations for Best Classical Composition. Mr. Tsontakis is Distinguished Composer-in-Residence at the Bard Conservatory and was the featured Composer-In-Residence for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for the 2008-09 season.