Stephen Dankner received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition from the Juilliard School in 1971. A list of works since 1990 includes nine symphonies, thirteen string quartets, background environmental music for the New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas, and a film score. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra has given premiere performances of six of his nine symphonies. Dankner was the composer-in-residence with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra from 2004–2007.