Zhou Long is a prominent Chinese-American composer known for his contributions to contemporary classical music. Born in 1953 in Beijing, he studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in China before moving to the United States in 1985. His works often blend traditional Chinese musical elements with Western classical techniques. Zhou Long gained international recognition for his opera, Madame White Snake, which premiered in 2010. He has received numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2011 for his composition The Rhyme of Taigu. His music is celebrated for its lyrical beauty and cultural depth.