Most of the important composers in our country are clustered in the Northeast.

If something is successful with the audience, it's automatically suspect; the reverse is to say that not to reach audiences is the greatest compliment an artist can receive!

There is something inherent in our democracy that tends to want to level. America is a little uncomfortable in the presence of someone who is distinctly superior in whatever way.

The performances of my works in the last 10 years are probably equal to all the previous years put together. There are so many venues now and there is a completely new public for opera that's grown up outside of the traditional core opera public.

America tends to worship the modest talent because it doesn't put us in an uncomfortable position vis-a-vis the artist.

I was encouraged by my mother and, to a lesser extent, by my father.

I've never set out consciously to write American music. I don't know what that would be unless the obvious Appalachian folk references.