Report From the Chair

The Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at BYU enjoyed another successful year of commissions and premieres alongside significant transitions within our leadership and staff.

This year’s $25,000 Barlow Prize was awarded to David Biedenbender for a major new work for wind symphony. It will be performed by the BYU Wind Symphony, Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, United States Navy Band, and University of Michigan Symphony Band. An additional $80,000 was awarded to ten talented composers in the General and LDS categories. Those new works will be performed by a variety of ensembles and soloists.

We thank Kevin Anthony for his dedicated service and welcome Elizabeth Ogonek to the board. Gloria Barlow Bowman began her service as the family representative, bringing new energy and professional experience to expand the Barlow brand. Dan Bradshaw continues as Executive Director.

We honor the memory of the late Ed Adams, who served as Barlow Chair for the past decade. As current Dean of the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications, I am pleased to step into this service, drawing on my past roles as Vice Chair, Consortium Judge, and performer of the 2020 Prize. Vice Chair Shawn Smith—also a past Consortium Judge—will conduct the BYU Wind Symphony for the premiere of the 2025 Prize.

We offer our bittersweet congratulations and deep gratitude to retiring Administrator Francie Jenson and Financial Officer Thaylene Rogers. The Endowment remains in excellent hands as Administrator Maile Roberts and Financial Officer Josh McDaniel seamlessly assume their respective roles.

For over four decades, the Barlow Endowment has fostered far-reaching music-making worldwide, and we look forward to many more years of global collaboration.