Arts and Letters

NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 27, 2026 – The American Academy of Arts and Letters announces the 20 recipients of its 2026 Awards in Music to honor both established and emerging composers. The 300 members of Arts and Letters nominate candidates for awards, and a rotating committee of composer members selects the winners. This year, the music award committee members were Christopher Theofanidis (chair), Derek Bermel, Libby Larsen, David Sanford, and Wadada Leo Smith.

Katherine Balch, Ashkan Behzadi, Natacha Diels, and Texu Kim will receive Arts and Letters Awards of $10,000 each, which acknowledge composers who have arrived at their own voice. These awards are accompanied by an additional $10,000 grant each toward one recording of a work. A concert with works by each recipient will be performed in the Arts and Letters Library as part of our Salon Concert Series, which was established in 2015.

The biennial Virgil Thomson Award in Vocal Music of $40,000 for an exceptional composer of vocal works will be given to Stewart Wallace.

The Otto and Catherine Brunson Luening Awards of $20,000 each for composers who have not yet been accorded due recognition will be given to Rand Steiger and Steven Kazuo Takasugi.

The Andrew Imbrie Award in Music of $10,000, which recognizes a mid-career composer of demonstrated artistic merit, will be given to Clarice V. Assad.

The Wladimir and Rhoda Lakond Award of $10,000 for an experienced composer will be given to Karola Obermueller.

The Wise-Hinrichsen Award of $5,000 along with the publication of a work, established by the C. F. Peters Corporation and supported by Wise Music, will be given to David Dominique.

The Goddard Lieberson Fellowships of $15,000 each, given annually to young composers of extraordinary gifts, will be given to Viet Cuong and Celka Ojakangas.

Since 1970, Arts and Letters has recognized outstanding composers with awards funded by the royalties of Charles Ives. This year, the Charles Ives Fellowships of $15,000 each, which recognize young composers of extraordinary gifts, will be given to Nicky Sohn and Alex Stephenson.

The Charles Ives Scholarships of $7,500 each, awarded to graduate or undergraduate students, will be given to Diallo Banks, Arjan Singh Dogra, Soomin Kim, Katharina S. G. Mueller, Ben Rieke, and Elizabeth Younan.

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

A full list of 2026 music award recipients follows.

Founded in 1898, the American Academy of Arts and Letters represents the highest standards of artistic achievement in this country, and our community of members are among the leading contemporary architects, visual artists, writers, and composers. Arts and Letters honors creative accomplishment through the election of members, the conferment of awards, and presenting public exhibitions and interdisciplinary programs at our historic buildings in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City.

Media Inquiries
Hanna Graybill
(212) 368-5900
hgraybill@artsandletters.org

2026 Music Award Recipients List

Arts and Letters Awards in Music
Katherine Balch
Ashkan Behzadi
Natacha Diels
Texu Kim

Andrew Imbrie Award in Music
Clarice Assad

Charles Ives Fellowships
Nicky Sohn
Alex Stephenson

Charles Ives Scholarships
Diallo Banks
Arjan Singh Dogra
Soomin Kim
Katharina S. G. Mueller
Ben Rieke
Elizabeth Younan

Wladimir and Rhoda Lakond Award
Karola Obermueller

Goddard Lieberson Fellowships
Viet Cuong
Celka Ojakangas

Otto and Catherine Brunson Luening Awards
Rand Steiger
Steven Takasugi

Virgil Thomson Award in Vocal Music
Stewart Wallace

Wise-Hinrichsen Award
David Dominique