Joël Bons (Amsterdam) trained in the modernist composition tradition but was also influenced by a diverse musical background, including The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and a variety of music from his parents' collection. He began playing guitar, formed a band, and composed music before attending the conservatory to study with Robert Heppener. Bons’ compositions have been performed by prominent ensembles and orchestras, including the Residentie Orkest and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. His recent works include Cadenzas, Green Dragon and Nomads, for which he received the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition in 2019. Nomads has been released on SACD by BIS Records.