Neal Kirkwood, composer, pianist, writes music for jazz and contemporary classical ensembles. He has composed for jazz big band, classical ensembles, vocal ensembles, solo piano and full orchestra. He has received commissions from the New York State Music Fund; the New York State Council for the Arts; the Children’s Aid Society; the Jazz Composer’s Alliance and Belgian ensemble Octurn.

As a band leader, Neal Kirkwood has recorded five CDs: “Blue Inventions” (Present Eye Music, 2019); “Time’s Circle,” (Present Eye Music, date); “The Neal Kirkwood Octet”; “The Chromatic Persuaders”; “Extrospection” (Timescraper Records). Currently Mr. Kirkwood conducts and plays in his 17-piece ensemble, The Neal Kirkwood Big Band, in New York City. His newest recording is a solo piano exploration of standards, “Welcome To My Dream”

Kirkwood has performed and recorded with jazz artists Pony Poindexter, Bobby Previte, Lindsey Horner, Phillip Johnston, and Mike Clark and others. He has toured internationally with vocalists Bobby McFerrin, Abby Lincoln, Michel Hermon, and Chris Connor. He works extensively composing for, and performing with, New York's creative and experimental theater ensembles. For 20 years he has composed new music every year for Ralph Lee’s Mettawee Theater. He has composed songs and incidental music for playwright Jim Neu productions. He has worked with experimental theater directors Joseph Chaiken and Anne Bogart