He holds a PhD in music composition from Princeton University, and studies Hindustani classical music as a formal disciple of acclaimed sitarist, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan. He has taught at Columbia University, Brown, NYU, Princeton and CUNY. His music has been presented internationally at venues including Lincoln Center, Sadler's Wells - London, Palais Garnier Paris, Grand Theatre de la Ville Luxembourg, as well as numerous festivals, small clubs and academic conferences. He has worked with the Trisha Brown and Merce Cunningham Dance Companies. Curtis recently was named the Ralph Samuelson fellow through the Asian Cultural Council, receiving a grant to study and collaborate with artists in India. Curtis is Assoc. Prof. and Graduate Program Director for the Arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy New York.