Walter Piston was a prominent American composer of classical music, a music theorist, and a professor of music at Harvard University. Born in Rockland, Maine, he became one of the leading American composers of his generation, known for his masterful command of counterpoint and orchestration. Piston's works, which include symphonies, concertos, and chamber music, are characterized by their clarity, craftsmanship, and neoclassical style. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music twice, first in 1948 for his Symphony No. 3 and again in 1961 for his Symphony No. 7.