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

Nearly $100,000 was granted by the endowment to more than a dozen composers

Each year, BYU’s Barlow Endowment for Music Composition hosts three competitions for composers around the world. One of their 2015 Latter-day Saint commission recipients, Lansing McLoskey, wrote the concert-length choral oratorio “Zealot Canticles,” which was performed by The Crossing and won a 2019 Grammy for Best Choral Performance. “My immediate reaction while sitting there at the Grammys was almost numbness,” said McLoskey. “I saw it with my eyes and heard the announcement with my ears, but my mind couldn't process that it was real. Then I was flooded with feelings of joy, pride, gratitude; I felt honored and humbled. I do not write music for awards or recognition, yet it's a humbling and rewarding experience when a work like this is recognized by my peers.” Ethan Wickman, the executive director of the Barlow Endowment, said the Grammy reflects well on the endowment and its mission, which is to encourage the creation of great music. “While there are many marvelous works that have been supported by Barlow over the years that won’t win awards in such a public venue, it is a reminder that without the Endowment’s support, this work—and so many others—probably wouldn’t have come to be,” said Wickman. “All of the new music that the endowment supports plays some small part in making the world a better, richer, more fulfilling place.” McLoskey was one of about 500 composers that judges reviewed during the selection process for the the Barlow Endowment. The judges then selected 13 composers and performers — one Barlow Prize winner and 12 LDS and General commision winners — to receive a commission. Wickman said, “Commissions are the lifeblood of new music; they provide the financial means for a composer to dedicate the time needed to create.” The endowment is one of only a handful of major commissioning competitions in the world, which means the aid it provides is vital to composers, performers and other music aficionados around the world. “I would argue that there is scarcely a corner of the globe with a community of composers of concert music who have not heard of the Barlow Endowment,” said Wickman. McLoskey echoed Wickman’s sentiment, stating that he applied because “the Barlow Endowment is one of the most important and significant organizations that funds commissions of new music by composers in the country — the world, really.” Wickman said that one of the things that sets the Barlow Endowment apart from similar competitions is that fact that a portion of the money is specifically dedicated to Latter-day Saint composers, something the endowment’s co-founder Milton Barlow was passionate about. “These LDS compositions are pieces of artistically valuable music that often do not enjoy the same mass-market, economic benefits as pieces of popular or commercial music,” said Wickman. “That’s why the work we do is so important to developing a high culture within music by LDS composers.” For McLoskey and other LDS composers, the LDS portion of the endowment opens doors that may otherwise remain closed. McLoskey says his great experiences with “Zealot Canticles” — including collaborating with the performers and their conductor, Donald Nally; releasing a CD with Innova Records; and, of course their Grammy for Best Choral Performance — all began with the Barlow Endowment making it possible for him to write the piece in the first place. McLoskey pointed out that historically there hasn’t been a lot of support for LDS art and music that wasn’t strictly conservative or traditional. “The importance of having an LDS (though technically not Church-owned) foundation that specifically promotes, advocates for and supports the creation of music by LDS composers, regardless of how 'traditional' it is and irrespective of whether it's ever heard within the walls of an LDS building or promoted by the Church, cannot be overstated, said McLoskey. “What an invaluable resource for composers — LDS and otherwise.”

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.

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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.