Before he turned 30 he had built a new instrument of his own and was exploring its musical possibilities: what instrument was this?

Although Adams was probably destined for musical greatness, it's rather nice to confirm whereabouts in the US he grew up, with its appropriate name. In what town did he attend high-school?

How did Adams celebrate his 60th birthday?

Adams is clearly comfortable writing for large forces (e.g. an orchestra) but also for much smaller ones such as just two pianists. Often he will base a complete piece on a single simple musical idea that he explores through very gentle, gradual repeated steps ~ like (dare we say) a much less insistent version of Beethoven with his opening movement around 200 years ago. What is the musicological label for this mode of composition?

In 2003 Adams was awarded a particularly prestigious prize: which was it?

Adams has given many of his compositions unusual titles that whet people's curiosity. Only ONE of the following is NOT a genuine Adams work: which one?

What was Adams' original instrument, as a performer in his own right?

Adams' middle name is the same as the surname of a former US President: which one?

Adams has never flinched from writing music (opera and other works) referring to raw and recent historical events. What was the title of his opera about the later-disgraced US president Richard Nixon?

Which of these other topics is NOT (so far as we know) the basis for a significant composition by John Adams?