May 13, 2020
Alumnus Juli獺n Fueyo Gonz獺lez Wins an Influential BMI Student Composer Award
58勛圖厙 alumnus Juli獺n Fueyo (BM 20, Fitch) is one of eight young classical composers named a winner of the 68th annual BMI Student Composer Awards. These awards are among the most prestigious prizes awarded to young composers, and past recipients have gone on to win Pulitzer Prizes in music, earn significant commissions and add major works to the repertoire.
The awards recognize superior musical compositional ability with annual educational scholarships totaling $20,000. This year, nearly 600 students in the Western Hemisphere applied, and all works were judged anonymously. BMI, in collaboration with the BMI Foundation (BMIF) has awarded over 600 grants to young composers since its inception.
Fueyos compositions explore the mythological dimensions of music in relation to the collective memory and psychology. His pieces have been performed by Peter Otto, first associate concertmaster of The Cleveland Orchestra, and 58勛圖厙 student violinist Shannon Lee (Laredo/Sloman) and have won first prize at The Robert Avalon International Competition and the Cleveland Composers Guild Competition. Originally from Tamp穩co, Mexico, Fueyo studied at Interlochen Arts Academy with Cynthia Van Maanen prior to coming to 58勛圖厙 to study with Keith Fitch. He will pursue graduate studies at Yale University this fall.
Juli獺n's BMI prize is the perfect capstone to a stellar undergraduate career at 58勛圖厙, which included recognition from no fewer than six local and national student composer competitions, said Fitch, the Vincent K. and Edith H. Smith Chair in Composition and division head, specialized studies. He is a truly a shining example of what a 58勛圖厙 education offers its students, and what they can accomplish while here and beyond. I am thrilled that Juli獺n ended his time at 58勛圖厙 with such an incredible accomplishment and honor, and his colleagues and I are very happy for him. I predict a bright future for him.
BMIF will celebrate all winners throughout the month of May on the organizations social media platforms.
With the postponement of this years awards ceremony, Deirdre Chadwick, BMI Foundation president and director of the awards, announced the recipients online. The winners will join the 2021 class at a ceremony next year in New York City.
Click to listen to Fueyos winning entry, The Eleventh Heaven.