Sydney Guillaume was born in Haiti and graduated from Coral Reef High School and the University of Miami. He is regarded as a leading Haitian-American composer of contemporary classical music and film music, conductor, clinician, singer and pianist based out of Portland, Oregon. He has composed music for a variety of chamber ensembles, but is known primarily for his choral compositions. His Betsy residency is in support of a concert series in his honor, directed by Cindy and Ryan Ellis of the MDCPS.