Jake Heggie
Born March 31, 1961 in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States (65 years old)
Opera
8 Principal Houses
Spotlight
Career Trajectory
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.
Career Highlight
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
At a Glance
- Discipline
- Composer
- Nationality
- United States
- Born
- 1961 · West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
- Active since
- 2000
Training & Education
University of California, Los Angeles
Engagements
Verified past & upcoming performances
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Career Arc
A chronological journey through key moments
1961Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
2000Inducted into the OPERA America Hall of Fame; Dead Man Walking
2025Named Musical America's Composer of the Year
Available Performances
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