Awards

This article lists established band composition awards as well as other composition prizes awarded to works for winds.

American Bandmasters Association Sousa/Ostwald Prize

• 1956: Fanfare and Allegro (Clifton Williams)
• 1957: Symphonic Suite (Clifton Williams)
• 1958: Portrait of the Land (J. Mark Quinn)
• 1959: Introduction and Scherzo (Maurice Weed)
• 1960: Overture in G (Florian Mueller)
• 1961: Cumberland Gap Overture (Joseph Willcox Jenkins)
• 1962: Concertino for Band (Fritz Velke)
• 1963: Concert Suite (Frederic H. Ashe)
• 1964: Symphony for Band (Robert Jager)
• 1965: Overture for Band (Frederick Beyer)
• 1966: Variations on a Korean Folk Song (John Barnes Chance)
• 1967: Daedalic Symphony (Lawrence Weiner)
• 1968: Diamond Variations (Robert Jager)
• 1969: Aria and Toccata (Richard Willis)
• 1970: Toccata (Fisher Tull)
• 1971: Divertimento for Concert Band (Karl Kroeger)
• 1972: Sinfonietta (Robert Jager)
• 1973: Festival Fanfare March (Roger Nixon)
• 1974: Visions (James Sclater)
• 1975: Jubiloso (Robert Panerio, Sr)
• 1976: Todesband (Lorette Jankowski)
• 1977: Danses Sacred and Profane (William Hill)
• 1978: Symphony, Opus 35 (James Barnes)
• 1979: No Winner Chosen
• 1980: Mutanza (James Curnow)
• 1981: Visions Macabre (James Barnes)
• 1982: Armies of the Omnipresent Otserf (David Holsinger)
• 1983: Exaltations (Martin Mailman)
• 1984: Symphonic Variants for Euphonium and Band (James Curnow)
• 1985: Symphony for Winds and Percussion (Joseph Downing)
• 1986: In the Spring, at the Time When the Kings Go Off to War (David Holsinger)
• 1987: Synergistic Parable (David Sartor)
• 1988: Piece of Mind (Dana Wilson)
• 1989: For precious friends hid in death’s dateless night (Martin Mailman)
• 1990: Fireworks (Gregory Youtz)

Starting in 1991, the format of the ABA/Ostwald Prize changed. The winner of the prize would be granted a commission for a second work to be provided the following year.

• 1991: Soaring Hawk, The (Timothy Mahr)
• 1992: Endurance (Timothy Mahr) Commission
• 1993: Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) (Ron Nelson)
• 1994: Chaconne (In Memoriam) (Ron Nelson) Commission
• 1995: Sea Drift (Anthony Iannaccone)
• 1996: Psalms For A Great Country (Anthony Iannaccone) Commission
• 1997: Zion (Dan Welcher)
• 1998: Circular Marches (Dan Welcher) Commission

After 1998, the commission component of the ABA/Ostwald Prize was abandoned.

• 1999: Fantasy Variations (Donald Grantham)
• 2000: Southern Harmony (Donald Grantham)
• 2001: No Winner Chosen
• 2002: Harrison's Dream (Peter Graham)

Starting in 2005, the ABA/Ostwald Prize became a biennial award.

• 2003: No Contest Held
• 2004: No Contest Held
• 2005: Redline Tango (John Mackey)
• 2006: No Contest Held
• 2007: Raise the Roof (Michael Daugherty)
• 2008: No Contest Held
• 2009: Aurora Awakes (John Mackey)
• 2010: No Contest Held
• 2011: Songs for Wind Ensemble (Yo Goto)
• 2012: Flourishes and Meditations on a Renaissance Theme (Michael Gandolfi)

ASCAP/CBDNA Frederick Fennell Prize

• 2002: Homages (Michael Djupstrom)
• 2004: Espresso (Yotam Haber)
• 2006: Three Spanish Songs (Matthew Tommasini)
• 2008: Cathedrals (Kathryn Salfelder)
• 2010: Haiku Symphony No. 4 (Joshua Hummel)
• 2012: Daydreams (Takuma Itoh)

Barlow International Competition/Endowment Commission

• 1986: Winds of Nagual (Michael Colgrass) Prize Winner
• 1990: Heroes Lost and Fallen (David Gillingham) Prize Winner
• 1990: Grand Spiral (Chinary Ung)
• 1996: Concerto for Piano and Winds (Murray Boren)
• 1998: Band Dances (Murray Boren)
• 2003: Concerto for Solo Percussion and Concert Band (Stephen Anderson)
• 2006: Piano Concerto (Gregory Mertl)
• 2006: Cantina (David Rakowski) Prize Winner
• 2009: The Wanderer (Joshua Harris)
• 2011: Through the Veil (Jesse Jones)
• 2011: What We Do Is Secret (Lansing McLoskey)

National Bandmasters Association/Merrill Jones Memorial Composition Contest

• 1992: Soldier's March, A (Robert Cronin)
• 1994: Festival de Ladrones Festival of Thieves (David Checketts)
• 1996: Panther Fire (Robert T. Smith)
• 1998: No award given
• 1999: Legends of the Northern Wind (Charles Rochester Young)
• 2001: Novo Lenio (Samuel Hazo)
• 2003: Moon by Night (Jonathan Newman)
• 2005: shards of glass (Brett Dietz)
• 2007: Clash, The (Ryan Main)
• 2009: No Winner Chosen
• 2010: After Rain (Jack Hughes)
• 2012: The Exultant Heart (Jess Langston Turner)

National Bandmasters Association/William D. Revelli Award

• 1977: Variations for Band (Jerome Sorcsek)
• 1978: No award given.
• 1979: Textures (Harry Bulow)
• 1980: Between Worlds (Byron Tate)
• 1981: Concerto for Bass Trombone and Band (David Gillingham)
• 1982: No award given.
• 1983: Scherzo for a Bitter Moon (Gregory Youtz)
• 1984: Concerto for Wind and Percussion Orchestra (Gottschalk) (Arthur Gottschalk)
• 1985: Winds of Nagual (Michael Colgrass)
• 1986: No award given.
• 1987: Apparitions for Symphonic Band (Anthony Iannaccone)
• 1988: For precious friends hid in death’s dateless night (Martin Mailman)
• 1989: Concerto for Piano, Winds and Percussion (Gordon Ring)
• 1990: Adventures of Matinee Concerto, The (Paul Epstein)
• 1991: To Build a Fire (Mark Camphouse)
• 1992: Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) (Ron Nelson)
• 1993: Hound of Heaven, The (James Syler)
• 1994: Lost in the Funhouse (Jeffrey Hass)
• 1995: Bum's Rush (Donald Grantham)
• 1996: Dreamcatcher (Walter Mays)
• 1997: Drums of Summer, The (Warren Benson)
• 1998: Fantasy Variations (Donald Grantham)
• 1999: Southern Harmony (Donald Grantham)
• 2000: Restless Birds Before the Dark Moon (David Kechley)
• 2001: Escapade (Joseph Spaniola)
• 2002: Illuminations (Dean Roush)
• 2003: (tie) Ra! (David Dzubay) / Perthshire Majesty (Samuel Hazo)
• 2004: Illuminations (Joseph Turrin)
• 2005: Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke)
• 2006: Symphony No. 2 (Frank Ticheli)
• 2007: Radiant Joy (Steven Bryant)
• 2008: Suite Dreams (Steven Bryant)
• 2009: Aurora Awakes (John Mackey)
• 2010: Ecstatic Waters (Steven Bryant)
• 2011: (tie) Passage (Scott Lindroth) / Epitaphs Unwritten (Kevin Walczyk)
• 2012: End of the World, The (Michael Schelle)

Sudler Prize for Composition

• 1983: Concerto for Wind Ensemble (Karel Husa)
• 1985: Winds of Nagual (Michael Colgrass)
• 1987: Piece of Mind (Dana Wilson)
• 1990: Symphony No. 1, "Lord of the Rings" (Johan de Meij)
• 1994: Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) (Ron Nelson)
• 1997: Dance Movements (Philip Sparke)

Walter Beeler Memorial Commission Series/Prize

• 1975: Al Fresco (Karel Husa)
• 1976: Liberty Song '76 (Paul Creston)
• 1977: Myth for Winds and Percussion (Armand Russell)
• 1978: Othello (Alfred Reed)
• 1979: Concerto for Symphonic Wind Band (Anthony Milner)
• 1980: Concerto Grosso for Brass Quintet and Band (Fisher Tull)
• 1981: Concerto for Band (Robert Jager)
• 1982: Tribute (Philip Lang)
• 1983: San Joaquin Sketches (Roger Nixon)
• 1984: Andante and Variations on a Theme for Macbeth (David Amram)

Starting in 1987, the commission series shifted to a biennial composition prize.

• 1987: Moonrise, A Polonaise, Early Light (Paul Reale)
• 1989: Music for Winds and Percussion (Frank Ticheli)
• 1992: Adagietto (Warren Benson)
• 1994: Metropolis (Adam Gorb)
• 1996: Lost in the Funhouse (Jeffrey Hass)
• 1998: Polka Nation (Evan Chambers)
• 2000: Myaku (David Dzubay)
• 2002: Homages (Michael Djupstrom)
• 2004: Redline Tango (John Mackey)
• 2006: No Prize Awarded
• 2008: Cathedrals (Kathryn Salfelder)
• 2010: Rumpelstilzchen: A Fairy Tale for Wind Ensemble (Jess Langston Turner)
• 2012: Sound and Smoke (Viet Cuong)

Note: The Pulitzer Prize is not a band composition award, but it is a major award for musical composition, and the WRP feels it is worthy enough to be included here. No work specifically composed for winds has yet won the Pulitzer Prize.

The Pulitzer Prize for Music

• 1943: William Schuman, Secular Cantata No. 2: A Free Song
• 1944: Howard Hanson, Symphony No. 4
• 1945: Aaron Copland, Appalachian Spring, ballet
• 1946: Leo Sowerby, The Canticle of the Sun
• 1947: Charles Ives, Symphony No. 3
• 1948: Walter Piston, Symphony No. 3
• 1949: Virgil Thomson, Louisiana Story, film score
• 1950: Gian Carlo Menotti, The Consul, opera
• 1951: Douglas Stuart Moore, Giants in the Earth, opera
• 1952: Gail Kubik, Symphony Concertante
• 1953: no prize awarded
• 1954: Quincy Porter, Concerto Concertante for two pianos and orchestra
• 1955: Gian Carlo Menotti, The Saint of Bleecker Street, opera
• 1956: Ernst Toch, Symphony No. 3
• 1957: Norman Dello Joio, Meditations on Ecclesiastes
• 1958: Samuel Barber, Vanessa, opera
• 1959: John La Montaine, Piano Concerto
• 1960: Elliott Carter, String Quartet No. 2
• 1961: Walter Piston, Symphony No. 7
• 1962: Robert Ward, The Crucible, opera
• 1963: Samuel Barber, Piano Concerto
• 1964: no prize awarded
• 1965: no prize awarded (See Duke Ellington)
• 1966: Leslie Bassett, Variations for Orchestra
• 1967: Leon Kirchner, Quartet No. 3 for strings and electronic tape
• 1968: George Crumb, Echoes of Time and the River
• 1969: Karel Husa, String Quartet No. 3
• 1970: Charles Wuorinen, Time's Encomium
• 1971: Mario Davidovsky, Synchronisms No. 6
• 1972: Jacob Druckman, Windows
• 1973: Elliott Carter, String Quartet No. 3
• 1974: Donald Martino, Notturno
• 1975: Dominick Argento, From the Diary of Virginia Woolf
• 1976: Ned Rorem, Air Music
• 1977: Richard Wernick, Visions of Terror and Wonder
• 1978: Michael Colgrass, Deja Vu for percussion and orchestra
• 1979: Joseph Schwantner, Aftertones of Infinity
• 1980: David Del Tredici, In Memory of a Summer Day
• 1981: no prize awarded
• 1982: Roger Sessions, Concerto for Orchestra
• 1983: Ellen Zwilich, Three Movements for Orchestra (Symphony No. 1)
• 1984: Bernard Rands, Canti del Sole
• 1985: Stephen Albert, Symphony RiverRun
• 1986: George Perle, Wind Quintet No. 4, for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon
• 1987: John Harbison, The Flight into Egypt
• 1988: William Bolcom, 12 New Etudes for Piano
• 1989: Roger Reynolds, Whispers Out of Time
• 1990: Mel D. Powell, Duplicates: A Concerto
• 1991: Shulamit Ran, Symphony
• 1992: Wayne Peterson, The Face of the Night, the Heart of the Dark
• 1993: Christopher Rouse, Trombone Concerto
• 1994: Gunther Schuller, Of Reminiscences and Reflections
• 1995: Morton Gould, Stringmusic
• 1996: George Walker, Lilacs, for soprano and orchestra
• 1997: Wynton Marsalis, Blood on the Fields, oratorio
• 1998: Aaron Jay Kernis, String Quartet No. 2, Musica Instrumentalis
• 1999: Melinda Wagner, Concerto for Flute, Strings, and Percussion
• 2000: Lewis Spratlan, Life is a Dream, opera (awarded for concert version of Act II)
• 2001: John Corigliano, Symphony No. 2 for string orchestra
• 2002: Henry Brant, Ice Field
• 2003: John Adams, On the Transmigration of Souls
• 2004: Paul Moravec, Tempest Fantasy
• 2005: Steven Stucky, Second Concerto for Orchestra
• 2006: Yehudi Wyner, Chiavi in Mano, (piano concerto)
• 2007: Ornette Coleman, Sound Grammar
• 2008: David Lang, The Little Match Girl Passion
• 2009: Steve Reich, Double Sextet
• 2010: Jennifer Higdon, Violin Concerto
• 2011: Zhou Long, Madame White Snake
• 2012: Kevin Puts, Silent Night

Like the Pulitzer, the Grawemeyer is not specifically a band composition award, but is rather a major music composition award administered by the University of Louisville and the Grawemeyer Foundation. No work specifically composed for winds has yet won the Grawemeyer Award.

The Grawemeyer Award

• 1985: Witold Lutoslawski, Symphony No. 3
• 1986: György Ligeti, Etudes
• 1987: Harrison Birtwistle, The Mask of Orpheus
• 1988: Not awarded
• 1989: Chinary Ung, Inner Voices
• 1990: Joan Tower, Silver Ladders
• 1991: John Corigliano, Symphony No. 1
• 1992: Krzysztof Penderecki, Adagio
• 1993: Karel Husa, Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
• 1994: Tōru Takemitsu, Fantasma/Cantos
• 1995: John Adams, Violin Concerto
• 1996: Ivan Tcherepnin, Double Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra
• 1997: Simon Bainbridge, Ad Ora Incerta
• 1998: Tan Dun, Marco Polo
• 1999: Not awarded
• 2000: Thomas Adès, Asyla
• 2001: Pierre Boulez, Sur Incises
• 2002: Aaron Jay Kernis, Colored Field
• 2003: Kaija Saariaho, L'amour de loin
• 2004: Unsuk Chin, Violin Concerto
• 2005: George Tsontakis, Violin Concerto No. 2
• 2006: György Kurtág, ...Concertante..., Op. 42
• 2007: Sebastian Currier, Static
• 2008: Peter Lieberson, Neruda Songs
• 2009: Brett Dean, The Lost Art of Letter Writing
• 2010: York Höller, Spharen
• 2011: Louis Andriessen, La Commedia
• 2012: Esa-Pekka Salonen, Violin Concerto