Joseph Koykkar, is a musician at home in a variety of music from classical to avant-garde to rock and blues. As a composer, he has had his music performed nationally and internationally for over the past 35 years, including performances and commissions by many of the leading new music ensembles in the nation including the Relache Ensemble, Present Music, Zeitgeist, New York New Music Ensemble, North/South Consonance, Synchronia, and the California Ear Unit. His music can be heard on 11 CDs, including an all-Koykkar CD released on Ravello Records in 2016 (Double Takes and Triple Plays)and on Northeastern Records in 1992. His composition Out Front on the North/South label, was one of 49 entries in contention for a 2006 Grammy in the “Best Contemporary Classical Composition “ category. He has composed in a variety of media including chamber music, orchestral scores, music for dance, film/video scores, and electronic/computer music. He holds degrees from Indiana University (M.Mus.) and the University of Miami (DMA). He has received grants and awards from such sources as the Pew Charitable Trust for Music, the NEA, Meet the Composer, ASCAP (27 consecutive awards), the American Music Center, the Wisconsin Arts Board and the American Composers Forum. He was composer-in-residence for the NOW Festival '96 at Capital University in Columbus, OH. He spent two years as composer-in-residence with the Artists-in Schools Program in Virginia from 1978-80. As a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he teaches courses in electroacoustic music/sound design and serves as Music Director for the UW's Dance Department. During the late 1980s and early 90s, he was instrumental in shaping the UW-Madison’s unique Interarts and Technology Program, acting as coordinator from 1995-2005. He has been on the UW-Madison faculty since 1987. He has been a past president of the statewide composers organization, the Wisconsin Alliance for Composers (1990-93).