Lewis Spratlan

Lewis Spratlan was an acclaimed American composer and music academic, renowned for his dramatic and vivid contemporary classical music. Born in Miami, Florida, in 1940, Spratlan's journey began as an oboist, which deeply influenced his compositional style. His breakthrough came with the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 2000, awarded for his opera "Life Is a Dream," specifically for Act II, which he had completed in 1978. This recognition was followed by numerous accolades, including the Charles Ives Opera Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2016. Spratlan's works are celebrated for their high dramatic impact and brilliant scoring, earning him fellowships from prestigious institutions such as the Guggenheim Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Beyond his compositional achievements, Spratlan was also a dedicated educator, sharing his passion and knowledge with future generations of musicians. His legacy continues to inspire and influence the world of contemporary classical music.