Commissions for the Costello

2014 Andrew Hsu: “Improvisations on Ailein Duinn” for harp and cello (1 movement) Winner; Michael McMillan “Forgotten Lyres” for violin, cello and harp (1 movement) runner-up, premiere Curtis April ’14; Joshua Hey “Iterations” for harp and percussion (1 movement) runner-up, premiere Temple May ’14.

2015 Bekah Simms: “wires at rest (tend to tangle)” for harp and cello (2 movements)

2016 Matthias McIntire: “The Night is Full of Dark Imaginings” for flute, viola, and harp (1 movement)

2017 Benjamin Yee-Paulson: “The Star at Night” for solo harp

2018 Pierce Gradon: “The Watching” for alto flute, harp, and viola

2019 Roydon Tse: “Release” for solo harp

2020 Amy Nam: “Abating Shadows” for clarinet, harp, and vibraphone

this prize was supported in part by the American Harp Society

2021 Luke Blackburn: “Menagerie of Endangered Creatures: Blue, Vanishing” for solo harp (2021)

Lyra Society Commissions (inspired by Edna Phillips’ Legacy)

2006 Jonathan Leshnoff: “Five things my children asked me” for flute, harp, viola and percussion (5 movements), $10,000 gift by Jeremiah German, February 25, 2008, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, American Philosophical Society, Syrinx Trio with David DePeters, percussion.

2007 Sheridan Seyfried: “Chrysanthemum” for solo harp

2008 Melinda Wagner: “Pan Journal” for harp and string quartet (1 movement), $10,000 joint commission by PCMS and Lyra, April 29, 2009, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, Juilliard String Quartet with Elizabeth Hainen, harp.

2008 Stephen Cabell: “Distance to the Moon” for flute, viola and harp (1 movement)

2009 Ke-Chia Chen: “Book of Images” for violin and harp (4 movements)

2010 Daniel Shapiro: “The Orchard Garden” for harp and percussion (needs editing, currently for two percussionists)

2011 Esteban Benzecry: “Horizontes Inexplorados” for harp (6 movements), $3000, February 9, 2011, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, American Philosophical Society, Elizabeth Hainen, harp.

2011 Michael Djupstrom: “Salzedo’s Jukebox” (6 movements)

2012 Daniel Temkin: “Floating Bells” (3 movements) Watch video here.

2013 Thomas Oltarzewski: “Winter Scenes” for harp, violin and cello (1 movement)