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American composer, composition teacher, writer, and conductor, often referred to as 'the Dean of American Composers'.Born in Brooklyn to Jewish immigrants, Copland studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. He became a pivotal figure in 20th-century American music, developing a distinctly American sound. Key works include 'Appalachian Spring', 'Fanfare for the Common Man', and 'Rodeo'. He received a Pulitzer Prize, an Academy Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

• Copland's parents were Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants; his original surname was 'Kaplan' before anglicization.
• Copland was gay, a fact acknowledged by biographers and scholars as influencing aspects of his life and artistic circle, though he was private about it publicly.
• During the McCarthy era, Copland was investigated for alleged communist sympathies and blacklisted from several engagements, including a planned appearance for President Eisenhower's inauguration, due to his progressive political views.
• He suffered from Alzheimer's disease and respiratory failure in his final years; he died of respiratory failure and a stroke in North Tarrytown, New York.