barlow endowment for music composition

Enjoy the Ensemble Eighth Blackbird As BYU’s Barlow Endowment for Music Composition Celebrates 40 Years

Dan Bradshaw’s appointment follows the six-year tenure of previous executive director Ethan Wickman

The BYU Barlow Endowment for Music Composition has announced the winner of the Barlow Prize as well as grant recipients for the endowment’s General and LDS Commissioning Programs. Out of 356 submissions from 36 countries, Canadian citizen Tawnie Olson was awarded the $12,000 Barlow Prize to compose a major new work for an unaccompanied SATB Choir. The work will be premiered by the BYU Singers, Seraphic Fire and The Crossing in 2020. Taiwan native Shih-Wei Lo was granted the distinction on Honorable Mention. The judges also granted $80,000 to 13 composers from over 200 applicants to the General and LDS Commissioning Programs. Ethan Wickman, the executive director of the Barlow Endowment, expressed his gratitude for all the composers and ensembles that applied to the competition. “Because of limited resources and keen competition among hundreds of applicants, the Endowment regrets they were unable to fund all worthy projects,” said Wickman. The endowment encourages individuals and ensembles to continue to apply for commissions. Details for the 2019 Barlow competitions will be available on their website and Facebook page in the coming months.

BYU’s Group for New Music looks towards the Orient as they prepare to showcase contemporary music by composers from China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea on Tuesday, November 1, in the Madsen Recital Hall. The concert titled “New Music From Asia” involves more than 20 BYU students and faculty who are part of BYU's Group for New Music, and includes a world premiere score for erhu (a Chinese instrument) and piano. Dai Fujikura, who composed the featured piece of the evening, Flute Concerto, is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after composers in the world. 'You've never heard a flute do anything like what's in Fujikura’s piece. Its unique character and the presence of the composer will make this a very special concert,' said Professor Stephen Jones, director of the Group for New Music. Born in Japan and now residing in London, Fujikura has worked with conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Peter Eötvös, Gustavo Dudamel, and Kazuki Yamada. “What’s even more remarkable,” said Jones, “is that this difficult concerto, written for internationally acclaimed flutist and MacArthur Fellow Claire Chase, will be performed by undergraduate student Catherine Winters.” Winters remarked that the experience of learning Fujikura’s Flute Concerto has been challenging, but also very rewarding. “I’ve been collaborating with Chase and Fujikura through email and Skype, and they’ve been very supportive and encouraging,” said Winters. “I’m incredibly excited to bring this new work to BYU audiences.” Fujikura’s Concerto pushes the performer to her limits requiring her to use what are known as extended techniques. Commenting on the piece, Jones said, “Its virtuosity is simply stunning. Watching Catherine play it will keep you on the edge of your seat!” Fujikura has also received two BBC Proms commissions, and is a recipient of a commission from BYU’s Barlow Endowment for Music Composition. “The evening has something for everyone,” said Jones. “Adventurous listeners are going to love the diversity and engagement this music will bring them.” The Group for New Music concert is free to the public. PHOTO: Jin Ohashi (© Jin Ohashi) 写真：大橋　仁 Read more about the event >>>

For more than 25 years, BYU’s Barlow Endowment for Music Composition has been quietly commissioning the Beethovens of our time and, over the years, has garnered a reputation as one of the more prestigious awards a composer can receive.

'Honored and Blest Be His Ever Great Name: The Joseph Smith Bicentennial Concert'

The Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University has commissioned 2005 Barlow Prize-winner Luca Antignani of Veroli, Italy, to compose a new work for chamber ensemble.