Born in Colfax, WA, Feb 27, 1943
- Lauridsen was born in Washington State to a family of Danish descent.
- According to Willamette Week, he grew up in Beaverton and was a member of the first graduating class of Sunset High School in 1961.
- Lauridsen studied at USC and subsequently taught composition there.
- His honors include being named an American Choral Master by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2006 and receiving the National Medal of Arts in 2007.