Prize Recipient
2024 Barlow Prize Winner
The Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University proudly announces the Barlow Prize recipient for 2024.
After reviewing 384 submissions from 47 countries, the judging panel awarded Karim Al-Zand the $15,000 Barlow Prize to compose a major new work for organ, to be premiered by a consortium of performers which will include Chelsea Chen, Don Cook, Janette Fishell, and Bradley Hunter Welch.
Known for his “strong and startlingly lovely” music (Boston Globe), Canadian-American composer Karim Al-Zand’s compositions span a wide range of influences and inspirations. His diverse portfolio includes solo, chamber, vocal, and orchestral works that draw from a rich tapestry of sources such as graphic art, myths, world folk music, and his Middle Eastern heritage. With accolades including the ArtSong Prize and the Arts and Letters Award in Music, Al-Zand's innovative compositions continue to leave a significant mark internationally. A founding member of Musiqa, Houston’s premier contemporary music group, Al-Zand is a Professor of Composition and Theory at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Prize Recipients
| YEAR SELECTED | COMPOSER | PIECE | ENSEMBLE (S) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Solo Guitar (Nylon Strings) |
Viet Cuong, USA | TBA | Ahmed Dickenson, Martha Masters, Meng Su and Xuefei Yang |
| 2022 Youth Orchestra |
Bobby Ge, USA | Pariedolia and Other Habits | Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, New York Youth Symphony and Guangzhou Symphony Youth Orchestra |
| 2021 Sinfonietta |
Texu Kim, USA | Līlā | Alarm Will Sound, The London Sinfonietta, The Oakland Symphony Orchestra and The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra |
| 2020 Song Cycle for Soprano and Piano |
Christopher Trapani, USA | the color of where you can never go | Tony Arnold, Sharon Harms, Carrie Henneman Shaw, Diane Reich |
| 2019 Pierrot Ensemble with Percussion + Electronics |
Bekah Simms, Canada | Metamold | Crash Ensemble, Eighth Blackbird, New York New Music Ensemble |
| 2018 SATB Choir |
Tawnie Olson, Canada | Beloved of the Sky | Seraphic Fire, The Crossing, and BYU Singers |
| 2017 Reed Quintet |
Stacy Garrop, USA | Rites For the Afterlife | Akropolis Quintet, Calefax Reed Quintet, and BYU Reed Quintet |
| 2016 Violin-Piano duo |
Gilad Cohen, USA | Late Shadow | David Bowlin and Spencer Myer, Duo Diorama, and Alexander Woods and pianist |
| 2015 Symphony Orchestra |
Alberto Colla, Italy | Ode by the Earth (Symphony N.4) | Guiyang Symphony Orchestra at the Beijing Modern Music Festival, San Antonio Symphony, and Utah Symphony |
| 2014 Saxophone Quartet |
Ben Hjertmann, USA | Awake, Alive, Amok, Ajar | US Air Force Band Saxophone Quartet, PRISM, and Zzyzx |
| 2013 Wind Ensemble |
Narong Prangcharoen, Thailand | Lokuttara | Florida State University Wind Orchestra, United States Marine Band, BYU Wind Symphony |
| 2012 A Capella Choir |
Forrest Pierce, USA | Gratitude Sutra | BBC Singers, Latvian Radio Choir, Volti |
| 2011 Woodwind Quintet |
Clint Needham, USA | Imaginary Dances | Fifth House, Imani Winds, Orpheus Winds |
| 2010 Piano Trio |
Dan Visconti, USA | Lonesome Roads | Deseret Piano Trio, Gryphon Trio, Triple Helix |
| 2009 Trombone Concerto |
Benjamin Ellin, England | Pandora | Joseph Alessi and the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 2008 String Quartet |
Harold Meltzer, USA | Aqua | Avalon String Quartet, Lydian Quartet, Pacifica Quartet |
| 2007 Percussion Ensemble |
Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Mexico | Memos | Nexus, Kroumata, So Percussion |
| 2006 Wind Ensemble |
David Rakowski, USA | Cantina for Wind Orchestra | University of Michigan Symphony Band, U.S. Marine Band, BYU Wind Symphony, UCLA Wind Ensemble, Southern Methodist University Meadows Wind Ensemble |
| 2005 Chamber Ensemble |
Luca Antignani, Italy | Il Viaggio di Humbert | Network for New Music Ensemble, Indiana University New Music Ensemble, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, and Ensemble X |
| 2004 Choral Work |
Judith Bingham, England | Ghost Towns of the American West | VocalEssence, BBC Singers, University of Utah Singers |
| 2003 Orchestral Work |
Brian Current, Canada | Symphonies in Slanted Time | American Composer’s Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra |
| 2002 Organ Solo |
Aaron Travers, USA | Exodus | Organ Consortium: Fred Swann, Pamela Decker, Kimberly Marshall, Christopher Young, and Donald Cook |
| 2001 Sacred Song Cycle |
Kenneth Frazelle, USA | From the Song of Songs | Erie Mills |
| 2000 Choral Work |
No Winner Selected | ||
| 1999 Orchestra Work |
Kevin Puts, USA | Symphony No. 2 | Utah Symphony and Cincinnati Symphony |
| 1998 Piano Work |
Henry Martin, USA | At Midnight’s Hour | Logan Skelton |
| 1997 Choral Music |
Maija Einfelde, Latvia | Psalm 15 | BYU Singers, Kansas City Chorale, Netherlands Radio Choir, Vancouver Chamber Choir |
| 1996 String Quartet |
Chris Theofanidis, USA | Visions and Miracles | Cassatt Quartet, Cuarteto Latinoamericano, Muir Quartet |
| 1995 Orchestral Work |
David Dzubay, USA | Sun Moon Stars Rain | Minnesota Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, St. Louis Symphony |
| 1994 Chamber Music |
Zhou Long, China | Tian Ling | Wu Man and the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble |
| 1993 Choral Music |
Joseph Lukasik, USA | Ho Hiyuwaye (A Voice I Send) | University of Colorado University Choir and Dale Warland Singers |
| 1992 Orchestral Music |
Otto Ketting, Netherlands | Symphony No. 3 | Baltimore Symphony |
| 1991 Brass Quintet |
Timothy Greatbatch, USA | Scenes from the Brothers Grimm | Empire Brass |
| 1991 Chamber Music |
Ka Nin Chan, Hong Kong | Among Friends | Carnegie Chamber Players |
| 1990 Concert Band/Wind Ensemble |
David Gillingham, USA | Heroes, Lost and Fallen: A Vietnam Memorial | University of Illinois Band |
| 1989 Choral Music |
No Winner Selected | ||
| 1988 Orchestra |
Gerard Brophy, Australia Mark Phillips, USA |
Turning | St. Louis Symphony |
| 1987 Chamber Music |
Daron Hagen, USA | J’entends | Lehner Trio |
| 1986 Band/Wind Ensemble |
Michael Colgrass, USA | Winds of Nagual | Band/Wind Ensemble |
| 1985 Choral Music |
L. Dean Nuernberger, USA | Planctus Super Iniquitates Hominum | Choral Music |