- John Cage (1912-1992): An American composer, music theorist, and artist. Cage is known for his experimental music, including his use of chance operations and non-traditional instruments.
- Pierre Boulez (1925-2016): A French composer, conductor, and music theorist. Boulez was a leading figure in the development of serialism and electronic music.
- Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007): A German composer, electronic music pioneer, and music theorist. Stockhausen is known for his complex and often controversial music, which often incorporates electronic sounds and instruments.
- György Ligeti (1923-2006): A Hungarian composer and music theorist. Ligeti is known for his use of complex rhythms and harmonies, as well as his use of electronic sounds.
- Steve Reich (1936-): An American composer and minimalist music pioneer. Reich is known for his use of phasing and repetition in his music.
- Philip Glass (1937-): An American composer and minimalist music pioneer. Glass is known for his use of repetitive structures and simple melodic lines in his music.
- John Adams (1947-): An American composer and minimalist music pioneer. Adams is known for his use of large orchestral forces and complex rhythms in his music.
- Kaija Saariaho (1952-): A Finnish composer. Saariaho is known for her use of electronics and spectralism in her music.
- Tan Dun (1957-): A Chinese composer. Tan is known for his use of traditional Chinese instruments and melodies in his music.