(born 18 July 1933) has achieved an international reputation as a composer, writer, an educator, and environmentalist. His most important publication, The Tuning of the World (1977), released after his work with the World Soundscape Project, summarizes his soundscape research, philosophies, and theories.

Schafer’s dramatic works employ music and theatre in a manner that he calls the ‘theatre of confluence.’ His diversity belies generalizations of style; his work could be described as a synthesis of 20^th- century avant-garde techniques with the 19^th – century romantic spirit.

He has received many awards throughout his career and was notably the first recipient of the Jules Léger Prize in 1978 and the first Glenn Gould Prize in 1987. Recent awards include the 2009 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.