Filipino-American composer and percussionist Susie Ibarra has been awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her composition Sky Islands.
The piece, which premiered on July 18, 2024, at the Asia Society in New York, draws inspiration from the rainforest ecosystems of Luzon in the Philippines.
The Pulitzer Board described Sky Islands as “a work about ecosystems and biodiversity that challenges the notion of the compositional voice by interweaving the profound musicianship and improvisational skills of a soloist as a creative tool.”
Commissioned by the Asia Society, the composition features traditional Philippine instruments, including bamboo, gong, and flute, and was performed by an ensemble comprising Ibarra, flutist Claire Chase, pianist Alex Peh, percussionist Levy Lorenzo, and the Bergamot Quartet.
Ibarra, born in Anaheim, California, and raised in Houston, Texas, is known for her interdisciplinary work that blends indigenous traditions with contemporary music.
She has collaborated with artists across genres and has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Museum of Modern Art.