Joel Harrison has been awarded grants by the Guggenheim Foundation, Chamber Music America, Meet the Composer, New Music USA, Jerome Foundation, NYSCA, Doris Duke, and Flagler Cary Trust. He has appeared on the "Rising Star" Downbeat Magazine poll for many years. His twenty albums as a leader showcase his prowess as a shapeshifting composer, including works for orchestra, big band, string quartet, solo cello, and percussion, small group jazz, and voice. Harrison is the founder and director of the Alternative Guitar Summit, a yearly festival devoted to new and unusual guitar music.