Griffin Candey is an American composer whose works have been praised for their "charming and elaborate complexity" and their "lyricism and emotional depth." Recent outings include several set of songs (for Tamara Wilson, Ryan McKinny, Kelley O’Connor, and more,) a new work for Timothy McAllister and Liz Ames for their recent album (Project Encore,) a collaboration with Minneapolis’ Cantus, a chamber ballet (Mirror Ritual) premiered at the University of Michigan with choreographer Jillian Hopper, and a handful of concerti (a chamber cello concerto, Facsimile; a viola concerto, Plein Air, and a tenor saxophone concerto, Double Aviary.) Upcoming collaborations include more songs (for sopranos Alexandra Nowakowski, Chelsea Helm, Lara Brooks, and Ann Moss, baritone Colin Levin, and a cycle for NYC’s Mirror Visions Ensemble,) a chamber work for NOW Ensemble (premiering on their 2024 Midwest tour,) and a chamber opera (Phenomenal Cage) with Boulder Opera Company. A tireless advocate for American opera, Candey served as Composer-in-Residence with Cleveland Opera Theatre from 2016 to 2022, premiering his adaptation of Federico García Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba (with librettist Caridad Svich) in Summer 2022. His previous operas—especially Sweets by Kate—have been performed by companies and universities across the country, including at Boston University's 2017 Fringe Fest, Fort Worth Opera's Frontiers Festival, Ohio State University, and at New York's Stonewall Inn.