Jake Heggie is an American composer whose operatic works—most notably the contemporary classic *Dead Man Walking*—have redefined the landscape of 21st-century American opera through their lyrical sophistication and dramatic urgency.
Defining moments and milestones
Jake Heggie's ascent from a classically trained pianist and composer to one of America's most performed contemporary opera composers began in earnest when San Francisco Opera appointed him Composer-in-Residence in 1997 to create *Dead Man Walking*, a work that premiered in 2000 and has since become a cornerstone of the modern operatic canon. His subsequent operas—*Three Decembers*, *Moby-Dick*, *Great Scott*, and *Intelligence*—have been championed by major houses including Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera, establishing Heggie as a master of lyrical, dramatically astute composition. Named Musical America's Composer of the Year in 2025 and inducted into the OPERA America Hall of Fame, Heggie continues to define contemporary American opera through works that balance accessibility with artistic rigor.
Named Musical America's Composer of the Year (2025) and inducted into the OPERA America Hall of Fame; *Dead Man Walking* (2000) has become one of the most widely performed contemporary operas with over 80 international productions
American University in Paris (two years); University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., 1984; M.A. in Composition, 2005); San Francisco Conservatory of Music (honorary doctorate)
Recordings featuring Jake Heggie in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.