Tania León
Tania León (b. Havana, Cuba) is highly regarded as a composer, conductor, educator, and advisor to arts organizations. Her orchestral work Stride, commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, was awarded the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Music. In 2022, she was named a recipient of the 45th Annual Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements. In 2023, she was awarded the Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition from Northwestern University. Most recently, León became the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s next Composer-in-Residence—a post she will hold for two seasons, beginning in September 2023. She will also hold Carnegie Hall’s Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair for its 2023-2024 season.
Tania León's "Raíces (Origins)" awarded the 2025 Diapasón d’Or
This award of highest distinction in France recognizes an outstanding classical music recording
Upcoming Schedule
Composers Now Festival Kick-Off
The Composers Now Festival will once again celebrate the breadth and vitality of contemporary composition. With performances, panels, and premieres across New York City, the festival brings together emerging and established voices in a vibrant showcase of musical possibility. Included on our Festival Kickoff will be music by Kavita Shah, Ileana Perez Velazquez, Pauchi Sasaki, and more. We will also present our 2026 Visionary Awards and the premiere of our newest First Commission awardee.
National Sawdust
Harlem Chamber Players
Program
Adolphus Hailstork Sonata da Chiesa
Chen Yi Shuo
Eddie Venegas A World Premiere for String Nonet (Double Quartet + Bass)
Trevor Weston The People Could Fly
Artists
Tania León, music director and conductor
Josh Henderson, violin soloist
Terrance McKnight, narrator and host
with an orchestra comprising members of The Harlem Chamber Players, with dancers from Harlem School of the Arts
