John Adams (b. 1947) is an American minimalist composer and conductor from East Concord, NH, director of The San Francisco Conservatory New Music Ensemble, and a father of Samuel Adams. Some of his best-known works include Short Ride In A Fast Machine (1986), Harmonielehre (1985), minimalistic Shaker Loops (1978) in four movements for strings, and Pulitzer-winning choral piece On The Transmigration Of Souls (2002), dedicated to the victims of 9-11 attacks. John also wrote several operas, such as Nixon in China (1987) and Doctor Atomic (2005). Adams teaches composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Adams moved to San Francisco in 1971