Francisco J. Núñez

Francisco J. Núñez, a MacArthur Fellow and Musical America’s 2018 Educator of the Year, is a composer, conductor, visionary, leading figure in music education, and the artistic director and founder of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, renowned worldwide for its diversity and artistic excellence. Since he founded the chorus in 1988, Mr. Núñez has created an awareness of the ability of children to rise to unforeseen heights of artistry and recognition among composers of the child’s voice as a significant instrument for making music.

Mr. Núñez also leads the University Glee Club of New York City, its fifth conductor since the all-men’s chorus was established in 1894 and is sought after nationwide as a guest conductor by professional orchestras and choirs and as a master teacher. Through YPC National, he is expanding the YPC model to children’s choruses beyond New York City to Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, and the Dominican Republic and is a frequent keynote speaker as a leading authority on the role of music in achieving equality and diversity among children in today’s society.

Mr. Núñez writes countless compositions and arrangements in all musical formats and styles for choirs, orchestras, and solo instruments, and has received an ASCAP Victor Herbert Award, the New York Choral Society’s Choral Excellence Award, and the Visionary Award from Bang on a Can. ABC-TV honored him as its “Person of the Week,” and Musical America Worldwide named him among 30 “Influencers” for his contributions to the music industry. NYU Steinhardt presented him with its Distinguished Alumnus Achievement Award, and he holds honorary doctor of music degrees from both Ithaca College and Gettysburg College.