Winston Schneider

Winston F. Schneider is an international award-winning American composer known for his masterful orchestration and imaginative musical voice. With over 40 composition awards—including from MTNA, NAfME, and NFMC—he is also a From the Top Fellow, ASCAP Morton Gould Honorable Mention recipient, a MATA Jr. composer, and the sole 2024 Davidson Fellow in music.

He has composed over 100 works, including the acclaimed Salt Creek Tiger Beetle Quintet and Anniversary Overture. His music has been performed by top ensembles across the U.S., including the Grammy-nominated Omaha Symphony, Grammy-winning New York Youth Symphony, Sempre Musick Orchestra (Boston), and Chamber Project Saint Louis.

Also a pianist and cellist, Winston was named Outstanding Performer of the Year by Global Musical Arts in 2023 for his interpretation of Prokofiev’s Suggestion Diabolique. He studies at the Omaha Conservatory of Music.

His deep connection to the natural world—having studied and catalogued over 175 insect species—inspires much of his work. His talk, “Echoes of the Earth,” has been presented nationally to raise awareness for endangered species.

Dedicated to music education access, he co-founded Music Marathon 4 Music Education, raising $10,000 to support lessons and instruments for all kids.