Arts and Letters

NEW YORK, MARCH 11, 2025 – The American Academy of Arts and Letters announces the 17 recipients of its 2025 Awards in Music to honor both established and emerging composers. Since 1942, music awards have been selected annually by Arts and Letters members to recognize and support fellow artists. The 300 members nominate candidates for the awards, and a rotating committee of composers selects the winners. This year, the award committee members were Christopher Theofanidis (chair), Libby Larsen, Annea Lockwood, Shulamit Ran, David Sanford, Wadada Leo Smith, and Melinda Wagner.

Mark Applebaum, Raven Chacon, Sylvie Courvoisier, and Tamar Muskal will receive Arts and Letters Awards of $10,000 each, which acknowledge composers as artists who have arrived at their own voice. These awards are accompanied by an additional $10,000 grant toward the recording of a recipient’s work. Since 2015, music by the winners of these awards has been performed each spring in a concert in the Arts and Letters library.

The inaugural Otto and Catherine Brunson Luening Award of $20,000 to accord a composer due recognition will be given to Mikael Karlsson.

The Andrew Imbrie Award in Music of $10,000, which recognizes a mid-career composer of demonstrated artistic merit, goes to Elizabeth Ogonek.

Two Goddard Lieberson Fellowships of $15,000 each, given annually to composers of extraordinary gifts, will go to Shawn Okpebholo and Aruán Ortiz.

The Wise-Hinrichsen Award, established by the C. F. Peters Corporation and supported by Wise Music for the publication of a work by an American composer along with $5,000, will be given to Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha’ Tate.

Since 1970, Arts and Letters has recognized outstanding composers with Charles Ives Fellowships and Scholarships. Two fellowships of $15,000 each will go to Arseniy Gusev and Gabriella Smith.

Corey Chang, Ryan William Garvey, Baldwin Giang, Emily Liushen, Gabriel Novak, and Max Vinetz will receive Charles Ives Scholarships of $7,500 each.

The music awards will be presented alongside the architecture, art, and literature awards at the American Academy of Arts and Letters’s annual Ceremonial in May.

A full list of the 2025 music award recipients follows.

American Academy of Arts and Letters

The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an honor society of artists, architects, composers, and writers who foster and sustain interest in the arts. Our 300 members distribute over 70 awards annually; fund concerts and new works of musical theater; purchase and commission contemporary art for donation to museums across the country; and present exhibitions, talks, and events for the public at our historic buildings in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City.

Media Inquiries for Music Awards

Ashley Fedor
(212) 368-5900
afedor@artsandletters.org

2025 Music Award Recipients List

Arts and Letters Awards in Music
Mark Applebaum
Raven Chacon
Sylvie Courvoisier
Tamar Muskal

Andrew Imbrie Award in Music
Elizabeth Ogonek

Charles Ives Fellowships
Arseniy Gusev
Gabriella Smith

Charles Ives Scholarships
Corey Chang
Ryan William Garvey
Baldwin Giang
Emily Liushen
Gabriel Novak
Max Vinetz

Goddard Lieberson Fellowships
Shawn Okpebholo
Aruán Ortiz

Otto and Catherine Brunson Luening Award
Mikael Karlsson

Wise-Hinrichsen Award in Music
Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha’ Tate