Faculty

Profile

Nina Shekhar is a composer and multimedia artist who explores the intersection of identity, vulnerability, love, and laughter to create bold and intensely personal works. 

Described as “tart and compelling” (New York Times), “vivid” (Washington Post), an “orchestral supernova” (LA Times), and a “rare composer who opens our ears a little wider each time” (Chicago Tribune), her music has been commissioned and performed by the New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Eighth Blackbird, International Contemporary Ensemble, JACK Quartet, Alarm Will Sound, The Crossing, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Her work has been featured by the Hollywood Bowl, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art, and WNYC/New Sounds (New York), WFMT (Chicago), and KUSC and KPFK (Los Angeles) radio.

Recent events include a Germany tour with the New York Philharmonic, her Hollywood Bowl debut with the LA Philharmonic, and performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, and LA Phil (joined by soloists Nathalie Joachim and Pamela Z). Current projects include commissions for the New York Philharmonic, a multimedia work for Grand Rapids Symphony, and a children’s interactive piece co-commissioned by Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, The People’s Music School, Play On Philly, and Sistema Ravinia (sponsored by New Music USA). Aside from composing, Shekhar is a versatile performing artist as a flutist, pianist, and saxophonist. She has been featured by the National Flute Association and has performed in the Detroit International Jazz Festival. 

Shekhar is currently serving as Composer-in-Residence of The Crossing and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s 2023-2024 Sound Investment Composer. She is on the composition faculty of Mannes School of Music at The New School. An active educator, Shekhar is also a faculty mentor for Luna Composition Lab and co-founded Brightwork newmusic‘s Project Beacon initiative.  She has held guest composer residencies at New York University, University of Colorado-Boulder, Western Michigan University, and Portland State University. She is a Civitella Ranieri Foundation Music Fellow and previously completed her tenure as Composer-in-Residence for Young Concert Artists. Shekhar is a PhD candidate at Princeton University and previously completed degrees at University of Southern California and undergraduate studies at University of Michigan, where she earned dual degrees in music composition and chemical engineering. She is a first-generation Indian American and a native of Detroit, Michigan.

https://www.ninashekhar.com/