Gary Nash is an American composer, arranger, clarinet player, educator and a long-term member of MusicaNeo. Receiving a Ph.D. in Music Composition at the State University of Michigan, he has earned numerous commissions, grants and music awards, including the title of Composer of the Year by Tennessee Music Teachers Association in 2005 and 2006. As composer, Gary aims to advance and contribute to American music. He writes music mainly for orchestra, large band and wind ensembles, choir, but also has a lot of chamber pieces, electroacoustic works, some art songs and film scores. Gary Nash’s compositions are strongly influenced both by traditional African-American music like Jazz, Ragtime, Blues and Gospel, as well as by Western classical music. Currently, he works as Professor of Music Theory and Technology at Fisk University and as Conductor of the university’s Jazz Ensemble.