Nina Shekhar

In this episode, I chat with Ms. Nina Shekhar. Ms. Shekhar is a composer, producer, songwriter, and multimedia artist whose work explores identity, vulnerability, and human connection through bold, emotionally charged sound worlds. Hailed by The New York Times as “tart and compelling” and by the LA Times as an “orchestral supernova,” she is one of the most celebrated composers of her generation, with commissions and performances by ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and JACK Quartet. A recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Leonard Bernstein Award and the Rudolf Nissim Prize, Ms. Shekhar’s music spans genres and media—from orchestral works and film collaborations to solo multimedia performances. She serves on the composition faculty at the Mannes School of Music, mentors for Luna Composition Lab, and co-founded Project Beacon with Brightwork newmusic. A Detroit native and first-generation Indian American, Ms. Shekhar is completing her PhD in Music Composition at Princeton University.