The enduring legacy of one of America’s most decorated composers has been the basis for launching the Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards, aimed at recognizing and enabling the next generation of music composition talent. It was shortly after graduating from Queens College—a founding partner of the awards—in 1967, that Hamlisch produced his first of more than 40 motion picture musical scores.
 
Following its tremendous success in 2019, the 2020-2021 Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards expanded the competition categories to enable musicians to apply in the following musical genres: Composition for Musical Theatre, Film/Media Scoring, Classical Composition and Jazz Composition. Composers worldwide will be eligible to compete in categories for Youth (under 18) and Emerging Composers (pre-professional composers aged 18+) for sponsored in-kind and cash prize packages.

Celebrity presenters to include Barbra Streisand, Sir Howard Stringer, Quincy Jones, Idina Menzel, Melissa Manchester, Maria Friedman, Johnny Mathis and Lucie Arnaz. The actual 2020-2021 awards ceremony is planned for Monday, March 22, 2021 at 7pm EST and will be streamed live at www.hamlischawards.tv.
 
Composers from around the world were eligible and encouraged to compete. “We are so grateful and humbled by the immense, diverse and extremely successful participation of composers in all music genres worldwide,” said Betsy Walters and Peter H. Gistelinck, Co-Founding Board members of the Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards. “We are so thankful to all of our celebrity presenters for their unconditional support and are thrilled that, especially in these challenging times, they are able to make a difference in memory of the legendary Marvin Hamlisch.”
 
“I speak for everyone at Queens College when we say we are so proud that Marvin Hamlisch is an alumnus of Queens College,” said Queens College President Frank H. Wu. “Nearly nine years after his passing, Hamlisch continues to impact the lives of so many through his work. We are honored to partner with the Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards for this incredible event. Although this year’s celebration will look much different and is presented virtually, this is sure to be an exciting evening filled with memorable appearances and wonderful music.”
 
A portion of proceeds from event sponsorships will support the Marvin Hamlisch Scholarship Endowment at Queens College. Established in 1984, it is a merit- and financial need-based scholarship awarded to a graduate music student.
 
The celebrity presenters for the 2020-2021 Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards, who will announce the nominees as well as the ultimate winner in each of the following categories, were announced today as follows:
 
FILM/MEDIA SCORING (EMERGING DIVISION) Presented by BARBRA STREISAND
Nominees: Matthieu Lechowski, France; Ádám Lipták, Austria; Alvaro Camara Lopez, Spain; Théo Schmitt, United States; Seth Stone, United States
 
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION (EMERGING DIVISION) Presented by SIR HOWARD STRINGER
Nominees: Lise Borel, France; Daniel Grotino, France; Alla Lowery, United States; Maksim Markov and Igor Sviridov, Russian Federation; Felipe Portinho, Brasil
 
JAZZ COMPOSITION (EMERGING DIVISION) Presented by QUINCY JONES
Nominees: Tomer George Cohen, Israel; Claire Cope, United Kingdom; Edgar Ibarra, Mexico; Patrick Lui, Hong Kong; Luca Poletti, Italy
 
MUSICAL THEATRE COMPOSITION (EMERGING DIVISION) Presented by IDINA MENZEL
Nominees: Josh Ben-Ami and James Salem, United States; Austin Gatus, United States; Charlie Romano and Will Wegner, United States; Caitlin Thomas, United States; Joshua Vranas, Brooklyn, United States
 
FILM/MEDIA SCORING (YOUTH DIVISION) Presented by MELISSA MANCHESTER
Nominees: Thomas Boulousis, Greece; Matthew Caren, United States; Isabella Dussias, United States; Ethan Lieber, United Kingdom; Sydney Wang, United States
 
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION (YOUTH DIVISION) Presented by MARIA FRIEDMAN
Nominees: Matthew Caren, United States; Isabelle Kramar, United States; Luca Pasquini, United States; Nathan Rihani, United States; Noah Tan, United States
 
JAZZ COMPOSITION (YOUTH DIVISION) Presented by JOHNNY MATHIS
Nominees: Will Everitt, United Kingdom
 
MUSICAL THEATRE COMPOSITION (YOUTH DIVISION) Presented by LUCIE ARNAZ
Nominees: Isabella Dussias, United States; Danielle Wu, United States
 
For more info about the contest and Awards Ceremony, visit www.hamlischawards.org.