Sydney Hodkinson, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was musically trained at the Eastman School of Music (BM/MM-1953-58) and the University of Michigan (DMA-1968). During a 55 year career, he taught at the Universities of Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Southern Methodist, Western Ontario, Oberlin, Indiana, Duke, and Rochester (Eastman School of Music), where he conducted the Eastman Musica Nova Ensemble and the Kilbourn Orchestra while chairing the Conducting/Ensembles Department.

During the Spring of 2012, he was awarded the Bolcom Extended Residency in Composition from the University of Michigan and was resident composer at Indiana University. Since 2004, Hodkinson has held the Almand Chair of Composition at Stetson University's School of Music.

Recent compositions include STOLEN GOODS for the American virtuoso pianist Barry Snyder, POTPOURRI for orchestra, SIX-PAK for wind ensemble, SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED for instrumental septet, and numerous chamber music works.

Awards include those from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, Guggenheim Foundation, Canada Council, National Endowment for the Arts; recordings are available on Albany, Centaur, CRI, Louisville, Innova, Mark, Novisse, and New World labels. He has been composer-in-residence and conductor of the Contemporary Ensemble at the Aspen Music Festival and School since 1998.