Hans Bridger Heruth (b. 1997) is an award-winning composer whose music has been praised as “lovely and delicate” and “impressively stylish” (The American Prize), and for having an “invigorating richness” (KC Metropolis). In addition, he is a conductor, pianist, singer, and violinist of distinction. His works have been performed by many different ensembles, most notably the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Kansas City Chorale, National Concerts at Carnegie Hall, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, Wilmington Concert Opera, Nightingale Opera Theatre Company, Cortona Sessions for New Music, newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, (art) Song Lab, KC VITAs Chamber Choir, Luther College Choirs, Festival Singers of Florida, the Boulder Chorale, and the University Singers of the University of Missouri. His award-winning chamber opera, A Certain Madness, was premiered with great acclaim and to sold out houses – based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, critics raved “Sherlock Holmes has never sounded so good” (KBIA). Heruth is also the inaugural composer-in-residence for the American-Prize-winning choral ensemble Vox Nova, and recently wrote them a 40-minute cantata for chamber choir and chamber orchestra titled “Becoming”. He was also recently named the winner of the 2025 Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers award, and received a commission from True Concord Voices and Orchestra. Heruth’s composition mentors have included Lori Laitman and Jake Heggie. He is a winner of the 2021-2022 Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music for his work as a collaborative pianist, and he is the founder and artistic director of Art Song KC. His music is published by Walton Music, EC Schirmer, Hinshaw Music, Santa Barbara Music Publications, and is self-published through his own label, Heruth Publications. He resides in Kansas City where he maintains an active schedule as a vocal coach and collaborative pianist.