ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
Advocates Philippines
Fil-Am Composer Susie Ibarra Wins 2025 Pulitzer For Music - With A Powerful Ode To Philippine Rainforests
Photo credit: Susie Ibarra
Big win for music—and Mother Earth!
Filipina-American composer and percussionist Susie Ibarra just snagged the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music with her breathtaking piece, Sky Islands. It’s a powerful, soul-stirring work that pays tribute to the fragile ecosystems of Luzon’s rainforests in the Philippines—and it’s making waves not just in the music world, but in environmental circles, too.
Sky Islands had its world premiere at the Asia Society in New York on July 18, 2024. But this wasn’t just any concert. This was an experience. With a fusion of traditional Filipino gong, bamboo, and flute music layered with contemporary ensemble dynamics, Ibarra created a sonic landscape that felt both ancient and urgent.
The piece was performed by an eight-member ensemble that included Ibarra herself on percussion, alongside musical powerhouses like Claire Chase on flute, Alex Peh on piano, and the Bergamot Quartet. One standout feature? The use of Floating Gardens, new sound sculptures made from gong metals—an homage to the Philippines’ traditional instruments, reimagined for today.
According to the Pulitzer citation, Sky Islands is “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.” In simpler terms? It’s a bold rethinking of how music can represent both nature and the self.
Beyond the music itself, Sky Islands is a call to action. It’s part of the COAL + ICE exhibition at Asia Society—a series aimed at sparking awareness around climate change and biodiversity loss.
And Susie’s reaction? Just pure gratitude. She posted on Instagram: “Thank you @foundationforcontemporaryarts. Sending much love to you all!”
This marks another big moment for Filipinos on the global arts stage—coming a year after a Filipina artist made it to the finalist list of the Pulitzer Prize in 2024. Now, with Ibarra’s win, it’s clear: Filipino voices are not just being heard—they’re being celebrated.
Filipina-American composer and percussionist Susie Ibarra just snagged the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music with her breathtaking piece, Sky Islands. It’s a powerful, soul-stirring work that pays tribute to the fragile ecosystems of Luzon’s rainforests in the Philippines—and it’s making waves not just in the music world, but in environmental circles, too.
Sky Islands had its world premiere at the Asia Society in New York on July 18, 2024. But this wasn’t just any concert. This was an experience. With a fusion of traditional Filipino gong, bamboo, and flute music layered with contemporary ensemble dynamics, Ibarra created a sonic landscape that felt both ancient and urgent.
The piece was performed by an eight-member ensemble that included Ibarra herself on percussion, alongside musical powerhouses like Claire Chase on flute, Alex Peh on piano, and the Bergamot Quartet. One standout feature? The use of Floating Gardens, new sound sculptures made from gong metals—an homage to the Philippines’ traditional instruments, reimagined for today.
According to the Pulitzer citation, Sky Islands is “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.” In simpler terms? It’s a bold rethinking of how music can represent both nature and the self.
Beyond the music itself, Sky Islands is a call to action. It’s part of the COAL + ICE exhibition at Asia Society—a series aimed at sparking awareness around climate change and biodiversity loss.
And Susie’s reaction? Just pure gratitude. She posted on Instagram: “Thank you @foundationforcontemporaryarts. Sending much love to you all!”
This marks another big moment for Filipinos on the global arts stage—coming a year after a Filipina artist made it to the finalist list of the Pulitzer Prize in 2024. Now, with Ibarra’s win, it’s clear: Filipino voices are not just being heard—they’re being celebrated.
May 10, 2025
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