TJ Manotoc

Fil-Am composer Susie Ibarra wins Pulitzer Prize for music

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News North America

<p>Filipina American composer and percussionist Susie Ibarra has made history by winning the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first Filipina American to receive the prestigious award.</p><div><br/></div><p>Ibarra was recognized for her composition Sky Islands, an expansive and evocative piece inspired by the Philippine mountain rainforests. The work, which premiered at the Asia Society in New York in the summer of 2024, incorporates kulintang rhythms, bamboo percussion, and melodies that pay tribute to both ancestral traditions and contemporary soundscapes.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJU7X2dxKVQ/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A1851337%2C%22ls%22%3A4263%2C%22le%22%3A4366%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1125" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>In its citation, the Pulitzer jury praised Sky Islands as a piece that “challenges the notion of the compositional voice,” applauding Ibarra’s innovative fusion of indigenous musical forms and modern classical elements.</p><div><br/></div><p>Beyond her contributions to contemporary music, Ibarra is known for her advocacy in cultural preservation. She co-founded Song of the Bird King, a platform that collaborates with Indigenous communities to document and share traditional ecological knowledge and music.</p><div><br/></div><p>Her win marks a significant moment for the Filipino American community, especially among creatives and musicians seeking greater representation in the classical arts. Ibarra’s recognition underscores the growing visibility of diverse narratives and the cultural richness of the Filipino diaspora.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uzl26UDXbGk?si=TObzlXXHbSbyybv7" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Ibarra continues to perform and collaborate on international stages, using her music to explore themes of identity, ecology, and resilience.</p><div><br/></div><p>See the original article on<em> </em><a href="https://www.kollectivehustle.com/blog/filipino-american-susie-ibarra-wins-the-pulitzer-for-music-and-honestly-its-about-time"><em>Kollective Hustle</em></a></p>

<p>Filipina American composer and percussionist Susie Ibarra has made history by winning the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first Filipina American to receive the prestigious award.</p>

Filipina American composer and percussionist Susie Ibarra has made history by winning the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first Filipina American to receive the prestigious award.