History: BMI and Classical Music

From John Adams, who was recently named the “most performed living American Composer” by the American Symphony Orchestra League, to Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Music, BMI composers cover the full spectrum of contemporary classical music. BMI is proud to represent such prominent American composers as Charles Ives, William Bolcom, Michael Torke, Steve Reich, Osvaldo Golijov, Joan Tower, John Harbison, Aaron Kernis, Henry Cowell, Walter Piston, Roy Harris, Joseph Schwantner, Gunther Schuller, Tobias Picker, George Crumb, Richard Danielpour, Lou Harrison, Harry Partch, Alan Hovhaness, Elliott Carter, Milton Babbitt, Christopher Rouse, Charles Wuorinen, Leon Kirchner, William Schuman, Michael Daugherty and the list goes on and on.....

BMI’s repertoire also includes the works of classical composers from around the world, including such highly regarded composers as Luciano Berio, Giacomo Puccini (SIAE), Ottorino Respighi (SIAE), Toru Takemitsu (JASRAC), Edgard Varese and Heitor Villa-Lobos (UBC).

BMI has a long history of encouraging young classical composers through the BMI Student Composer Awards program. Founded in 1952, this awards program has become the oldest and most prestigious honor for young composers in the Western Hemisphere. Many important composers, including eleven Pulitzer Prize-winners, have received their first recognition through this award. The Student Composer Awards is co-sponsored by the BMI Foundation, which also has many special programs which support and encourage the creation and performance of classical music.