Justin Weiss is a composer and conductor whose music has been described as “lush, colorful” (Cleveland Classical) and full of “rustling energy” (Hyde Park Herald). His music explores the perception of time, energy, and transformation through collective textural play and melodically driven lyricism, immersing the listener in dramatic and vibrant sonic worlds. Much of Justin’s recent work has been focused on the translation and abstraction of visual arts and visual elements into sound.

Justin’s work has been recognized with a Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the League of Composers/ISCM Prize, the Prix Langage Musical from Les Écoles d’Art Américaines de Fontainebleau, the Walter E. Aschaffenburg Prize for Composition and awards and recognitions from institutions including ASCAP, Society of Composers, Inc., The American Prize, Tribeca New Music, YoungArts, and Encore Wind Ensemble. Justin will be a Composition Fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School for the summer of 2025.

Justin’s music has been performed internationally by ensembles and musicians including Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Albany Symphony, Quatuor Diotima, Grossman Ensemble, TAK Ensemble, ~Nois Saxophone Quartet, Ekmeles Vocal Ensemble, Sandbox Percussion Quartet, Vertixe Sonora, VICE Ensemble, CHROMA Ensemble, Constantinides New Music Ensemble, Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, Encore Wind Ensemble, Colin Currie, Huw Watkins, and Michael Foyle. Justin’s music has been presented at many festivals and conferences including Constellation Chicago, DiMenna Center, Ear Taxi Festival, North American Saxophone Alliance, Fontainebleau (FR), CHIMEFest, Red Note Music Festival, CAMPGround, VIPA (SP), and soundSCAPE (IT).

In addition to composing, Justin is an avid conductor, particularly in the realm of new music. He is the co-artistic/executive director and conductor for the new Chicago-based contemporary music ensemble, Mycelium New Music. He was previously the conductor of the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble and co-director of the Montclair State University New Music Ensemble. He has led performances with VICE Ensemble, Oberlin Sinfonietta and Contemporary Music Ensemble, and soundSCAPE Sinfonietta, and has premiered dozens of new works internationally. Justin studied conducting with Tim Weiss and Sian Edwards.

Justin studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he was the recipient of the Dr. Mosco Carner Scholarship. Justin holds a PhD in Music Composition from the University of Chicago, where he studied with Augusta Read Thomas. Beginning Fall 2025, Justin will be a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.