Awards & Honors
Doctor of Musical Arts, The Julliard School
Doctor of Humane Letters, Russell Sage College
Doctor of Fine Arts, Dominican University
Jazz Gallery Contribution Award, 2024
National Sawdust Trailblazer Award, 2024
New Music USA Honoree for Transforming the Music of Our Time, 2024
Mad Women Festival Award in Music, Madrid, Spain, 2017
Resident Fellowship at the MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH, 2016
Latin Grammy nomination, Best Classical Contemporary Composition (for Inura), 2013
Grammy nomination, Best Classical Contemporary Composition (for Inura), 2013
ASCAP's Victor Herbert Award, 2013
ASCAP Plus Award, 2012
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Distinguished Scholar at Witwatersrand University, South Africa, 2012
Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Classical Contemporary Composition, 2012
Grammy Nomination for Best Contemporary Classical Composition, 2012
Nation to Nation Networking Award, 2011
Symphony Space Access to the Arts Award, 2011
Inducted to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, 2010
Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Classical Contemporary Composition, 2010
ASCAP Standard Award, 2010
Pulitzer Prize nomination (for Acana), 2009-10
Meet the Composer/MetLife Creative Connections, 2009
UCross Foundation. Wyoming, 2009
Pulitzer Prize Orpheus Nomination. "Acana" for Orchestra, 2008
U.S. Artistic Ambassador of American Culture in Madrid, Spain, 2008
The New York City Council Proclamation, 2007
Guggenheim Fellowship Award. Music Composition, 2007
Honorary Doctorate in Music, SUNY Purchase, 2007
Ignacio Cervantes Lifetime Achievement Medal. The Cuban Cultural Center. Tania León: A Celebration and a Tribute. Weill Recital Hall, 2006
The Council of the City of New York Proclamation, 2006
Distinguished Professor, City University of New York, 2006
Best of 2005. ARTFORUM. Concert of Tania León chamber music at Aaron Davis Hall, NYC
Fromm Music Foundation Commission, 2005
Meet the Composer awards, 1975- present
ASCAP Composer's Awards, 1978-present
Nathan Cummings Foundation Award to Aaron Davis Hall "WaterWorks" commission, 2005
NY Times review of Tania León Portrait Concert at Columbia University's Miller Theatre
Feature article in Yamaha's "Accent" magazine, Summer 2004
Portraits of Latino Achievement. Exhibition. Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives. 2003-06
Aaron Copland Fund for Music 2003 Recording Program awarded to Bridge Records for "Music of Tania León"
Coalition of 100 Black Women. 2003 National Women's History Month Honoree, 2003. National Women's History Project
Civitella Ranieri Fellowship, 2003-2004
Arts International Award, 2002
Meet the Composer Music/USA, 2002
Honorary Doctorate, Oberlin College, 2002
National Endowment for the Arts, 2002
Leonard and Claire Tow Professor of Music at Brooklyn College, 2000-2004
Serge Koussevitzky Composition Award, 2000
New York State Council on the Arts, 2000
Honorary doctorate, Colgate University, 1999
New York State Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award, 1998
Brooklyn College Creative Achievement Award, 1998
American Music Center Letter of Distinction, 1997
El Diario de la Mujer Achievement Award, 1997
Meet the Composer/Reader's Digest Commission Award, 1995
Chamber Music America Commission Award, 1995
ASCAP Morton Gould Award for Innovative Programming, 1995
New York University Award for Distinguished Alumni, 1994
New York State Council on the Arts Commission Award, 1994
Munich Biennial for New Music Theatre Award for Composition, 1994
Meet the Composer/Reader's Digest Commission Award, 1992
American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Award in Music, 1991
New York Mayoral Award for Brooklyn Philharmonic Community Concert Series, 1989
Mary Flagler Carey Trust Award, 1989
New York State Council on the Arts Award, 1988
Manhattan Arts Award, 1985
Dean Dixon Achievement Award, 1985
Queens Council on the Arts Award, 1983
Key to The City of Detroit, 1982
Byrd Hoffman Foundation Award, 1981
National Council of Women of the United States Achievement Award, 1980
Cintas Award in Composition, 1976, 1979
Nation Endowment for the Arts Award, 1975
Alvin Johnson Award, 1971
American Council for Emigres Award, 1971
Commissions & Grants
Pa'lante. Commissioned and premiered by Los Angeles Philharmonic and the International Contemporary Ensemble, Ojai Festival, June 12, 2016.
Origenes. Premiered by Monarch Brass as part of the International Women's Brass Conference, conducted by Victoria Bond. June 7, 2012
The International Women's Conference. A new work for Monarch Brass, 2012
Homentage (Homage). Premiered by Adam Kent. Commissioned by the Foundation for Iberian Music, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Xavier Montsalvatge. 2011
going...gone. Premiered by Anthony de Mare, piano. Commissioned by Scott and Roxanne Box for the Liasons Project, : Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano. April 21, 2012
Rimas Tropicales. Commissioned for the San Francisco Girls Chorus by Classical Movements, Inc. as part of the Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program. Premiered by the San Francisco Girls Chorus, San Francisco, CA. June 9 and 11, 2011
Cuarteto No. 2. Premiered by the Harlem Quartet, New York, NY. May 14, 2011
Classical Movements. Choral work for the San Francisco Girls Chorus, 2011
Clarion Concerts. String trio to honor music director Sanford Allen, 2011
Foundation for Iberian Music. Piano work for Adam Kent, 2011
LIAISONS: Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano. Piano work for Anthony de Mare, 2011
A Tres Voces. Commissioned by Clarion Concerts, 2010
Cumba Cumbakin. Premiered by the Harvard Wind Ensemble, Boston, MA. March 6, 2010
San Francisco Girls Chorus, 2010
Leaf Peeper Concert. String Trio, 2010
Harvard University Band, 2010
ASCAP Foundation, Sphinx Organization for the Harlem String Quartet, 2009
Brandon Fradd for Dance Brazil Company, 2009
Esencia para cuarteto de cuerda. Premiered by the Del Sol Quartet, San Francisco, CA. May 8, 2009.
Inura, original score for ballet. Premiered by Dance Brazil. Skirball Center, NYC, Mar. 19-22, 2009.
Tiempo en Clave for violin and percussion. Premiered by Ana Milosavljevic and Alex Lipowski. The Times Center, NYC. Oct. 24, 2008
Estampas for SATB. Premiered by Chicago a capella. Chicago, IL. Apr. 19, 2008
Ácana for orchestra. Premiered by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Carnegie Hall, NYC. Live broadcast on WNYC-FM (93.9). April 1, 2008
The Chicago a cappella, 2008
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Purchase College with support from the New York State Music Fund, 2008
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2008
The Hanson Institute for American Music at the Eastman School of Music and College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, Poetry by Margaret Atwood, 2007
Latin Fiesta with support from the Philadelphia Music Project, Pew Charitable Trust, 2007
The Eastman School of Music, 2007
Meet the Composer New Music New Donors Project for Marya Martin, flute, 2006
The Nathan Cummings Foundation for "WaterWorks" series. Aaron Davis Hall, 2006
Fromm Music Foundation for Del Sol String Quartet. 2006
Opus 21, 2006
The University of Maryland for Airi Yoshioka, violin, 2006
"WaterWorks", Aaron Davis Hall, NY with support from the Nathan Cummings Foundation. Poetry by Rita Dove, 2006
Shaw Center for the Performing Arts, Baton Rouge, LA. Collaboration with Wole Soyinka, 2005 Albany Symphony, 2005
The Commissioning Project, 2005
The Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, 2004
The Fest der Kontinente in celebration of György Ligeti. Berlin, Germany, 2003
Meet the Composer Music/USA and the National Endowment for the Arts, 2003
Hebras de luz for electric viola, Commissioned by Martha Mooke, 2003
Mistica for piano. Commissioned by Ursula Oppens, 2003
Guggenheim Museum, on poetry by Derek Walcott, 2002
International Society for Contemporary Music, 2002
The Commissioning Project, 2002
Los Angeles Master Chorale, 2001
Meet the Composer/NEA for Donald Byrd Dance Company, 2001
American Composers Orchestra, 2001, 1988
Women's Philharmonic, 2001
Sequitur, 2000
National Musical Arts "Africa Spirit Ascending", 2000
Mutable Music, 2000
Library of Congress for Copland Centennial Celebration, 2000
Musical Arts, Franklin and Marshall College, 2000
American Composers Forum, 2000
Mexico/US Fund for Culture, 2000
Manchester Music Festival, 2000
Lincoln Center Tree Lighting Ceremony, 1999
NDR Sinfonie Orchester, Hamburg, 1999
Interpretations at Merkin Concert Hall, 1998
David Starobin, 1998
Miami Light Project, New World Symphony, Miami Dade Community College, Arizona State University, 1997
Continuum 30th anniversary commission, 1996
Residencies & Presentations
Resident Fellowship at the MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH, 2016
Keynote Address. Berklee College of Music, 2014
Resident Composer, Cornell University, 2014
Lecturer, Ithaca College, 2014
Ithaca College — Composition Program, 2014
Composer Residency at Cornell University, 2014
Colloquium Series. Chicago University, 2012
University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2012
John Duffy Institute, 2012
Mosse Lectures, University of Humboldt, Berlin, Germany, 2011
Cultural Counterpoints Conference, Indiana University, 2011
651 Arts' Live and Outspoken Series, 2011
Swiss Opening Ceremony. United Nations. Geneva Switzerland, 2009
Honors Festival, Carnegie Hall, 2009
Chamber Music America Annual Conference, 2009
Michigan State University, 2008
Warsaw Autumn Festival, Poland, 2008
Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China, 2008
Beijing International Congress on Women in Music, 2008
College Music Society Conference, Gettysburg, PA, 2008
U.S. Artistic Ambassador of American culture in Spain, 2008 New Music Miami Festival. 2007
New York Festival of Song, 2007
A Composer's Career. Library of Congress, 2007
The Gatehouse Inauguration, NY, 2006
Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement, Smithsonian Institution, 2006
Hammoniale Festival, Hamburg, Germany, 1995
Berlin Biennial Music Festival, Germany, 1995
Visiting lecturer, Harvard University, 1993
Visiting professor, Yale University, 1993
Voices of Change, Dallas, 1993
Carnegie Mellon University, 1993
Billings Symphony, January1993
Cornish College, Seattle, January 1993
Cleveland Institute, February 1992
Bellagio Center, Italy, 1992
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Artist Residency, Yaddo, 1991
Ravinia Festival, Aujgust 1991
New York Philharmonic Encounter Concert Series, 1990
New York Philharmonic teaching artist, January 1990
Spellman College Festival composer in residence, July-August 1990
Cabrillo Festival composer in resid!!ence, July 1990
Cal Arts Computer Center composer in residence, March 1990
Composer-to-Composer Conference, Telluride, composer in residence, 1989
American Symphony Orchestra League Conference, composer in residence, 1989
South Carolina Arts institute teaching artist, summer 1988
Composer-in-residence, Lincoln Center Institute, 1984-1988
Whitney Museum Music Director American Sampler Concert Series, 1986-1987
Alvin Ailey School resident composer, 1982-1985
Dance Theatre of Harlem music director and resident composer, 1970-1979
Royal Command Performance, London, 1976
Conducting & Music Director
Dominican Classical Arts Orchestra, 2016
Ojai Music Festival, 2016
ICE and Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, 2016
International Contemporary Ensemble, 2015
Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, 2015
Orquesta Sinfonica de Guanajuato, Mexico, 2014
Da Capo Players, 2013
Johannesburg Academy Orchestra, 2012
WaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, Durban, South Africa, 2012
Orquesta Sinfonica de Guanajuato, Mexico, 2012
Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, 2011
Son Sonora Ensemble and Voices, 2011
DanceBrazil Percussion, 2011
Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota, 2010
L'Orchestre de Chambre de Geneve, 2009
Son Sonora Ensemble, Dance Brazil, 2009
Beijing Central Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, China, 2008
Chicago Sinfonietta, 2008
Purchase Symphony Orchestra, 2008
Orquesta Sinfonica de Asturias, Spain. 2006
Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, ND, 2005
"Samarkand" - Multimedia production with Wole Soyinka. Shaw Center for the Performing Arts, Baton Rouge, LA., 2005
Shangri La - Opera by Susie Ibarra, The Kitchen, NYC, 2005
Symphony Orchestra of Marseille, France, 2005
New York University Symphony Orchestra, 2004
MOSAIC Chamber ensemble, NY, 2004
Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, Spain, 2004
Symphony Orchestra of Marseille, France, 2003
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Madrid Symphony Orchestra, Madrid, 2002
Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid, Spain, 2002
Fort Worth Opera, Candide, 2001
Scourge of Hyacinths, Orquesta de la Opera, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico, 2001
Orchestre Symphonique de Nancy (France), 2001
Santa Cecilia Orchestra, Rome, Italy, 2000
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, 1990-2007
Scourge of Hyacinths, Geneva Grand Opera, Switzerland, Nancy Opera House, France, St. Polten Opera House, Austria, 2000
Drummin', Hammoniale Festival der Frauen, Hamburg, Germany, 1999
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester, Halle, Germany, 1998
Drummin', New World Symphony, Miami, FL, 1997
Akron Symphony, 1997
"The Lion King", Music Director, Workshop Production, Walt Disney Theatricals, 1996
New York Philharmonic, 1996
Metropolitan Opera, Cover Conductor for The Voyage, 1996
Savannah Symphony, February 1996
Charlotte Symphony, February 1996
Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, 1996
Orquesta Sinfonica de El Salvador, 1996
Schwerin Symphony Orchestra, 1996
Leipzig Gewaundausorchester, 1995
American Composers Orchestra, Sonidos de las Americas, 1994-1999
Scourge of Hyacinths, Munich Biennale, Germany, 1994
Billings Symphony, 1993
RIAS Orchestra, Berlin, 1992
Louisville Orchestra, 1992
Dance Theatre of Harlem, South African Tour, 1992
National Symphony Orchestra of Johannesburg, 1992
Opera Orchestra of Johannesburg, 1992
Beethovenhalle Symphony Orchestra, Bonn, 1992
Town Hall, production of Joplin's Treemonisha, 1991
New World Symphony, Miami, 1991
Lincoln Center International Festival of the Arts, 1991
Brooklyn Philharmonic, 1991
Celebrate Brooklyn Festival, 1991
Dance Theatre of Harlem, Kennedy Center, 1991
LaCrosse Symphony, 1991
Brooklyn Philharmonic Trinidad tour, 1990
New Music America, Next Wave Festival, 1990
Phoenix Symphony, 1990
New Music America, Houston, 1990
Columbus Symphony, 1990
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, 1990
Puerto Rico Symphony, 1990
Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, 1990
Colonne Orchestra, Paris, 1990
Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, 1990
Sadler's Wells Orchestra, London, 1990
Buffalo Philharmonic, 1990
Genova Symphony, Italy, 1990
Festival of Two Worlds, Spoleto, 1990
Spoleto Festival, Charleston, 1990
New York Shakespeare Theater, 1987-1988
Whitney Museum Contemporary Music Concert Series, 1986, 1987
The Human Comedy, Joseph Papp, Producer, Broadway, NYC, 1984
The Golden Windows, Munich, 1982
Maggie Magalita, Kennedy Center, 1980
Death, Destruction, and Detroit, Berlin, 1979
Brooklyn Philharmonic "Latin Lights" Festival, 1979
Brooklyn Philharmonic Community Concerts, 1977-1988
The Wiz on Broadway, 1977-1978
Dance Theatre of Harlem, 1969-1980
BBC Northern Orchestra, 1976
Royal Ballet Orchestra, 1976
Buffalo Philharmonic, 1975
Dance Theatre of Harlem, London and European Tour, 1974
Symphony of the New World, 1974
Genova Symphony, Italy, 1972
Juilliard Orchestra, 1971
Festival of Two Worlds, Spoleto, 1971
Buffalo Symphony, 1970
Related Activities
The INTAKE Music Organization, Board Member since 2015
Interfaith Committee of Remembrance. Executive Committee member
National Advisory Council, Cornish College of the Arts, 2012
Symphony Space Board Member, 2012-
Founder, Composers Now Festival, 2009-
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Board Member, Cintas Foundation
Board Member, Symphony Space
Board Member, MacDowell Colony
Board Member, New Music Connoisseur
Board of Advisors, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas
Board of Advisors, American Composers Orchestra
Board of Advisors, Encompass Music Theatre
Board of Advisors, International Alliance for Women in Music
Board of Advisors, Quintet of the Americas
Board of Advisors, League of Composers/ISCM
Board of Advisors, Symphony Space
Board of Advisors, Sphinx Organization
Board of Advisors, Orquesta Sinfonica de las Americas
Board of Advisors, altaVoz
Board Member, Chamber Music America (through June 2012)
Latin American Advisor, Sonidos Festival, Symphony Space 2010-2011
Chair, Honorary Degrees Committee, Brooklyn College, CUNY
Editorial Advisory Board, New Music Connoisseur
Symphony and Concert Committee, ASCAP
Special Classifications Committee, ASCAP
Concert Committee, Interfaith Committee of Remembrance
President, Jury, Concorso Internazionale di Composizione "2 Agosto", Bologna, Italy, 2002, 2008
Board Member, American Music Center, 2001-2007
Juror, Yaddo Composition Residencies, 2006
Juror, Simon Bolivar Prize in Composition, Caracas, Venezuela, 2006
Juror, Fullbright Scholarship, 2004, 2005
Juror, Ladislav Kubik International Prize in Composition, 2004
Profile feature, "Noticias del Mediodia", Telemundo, 2005
National Screening Committee, Institute of International Education. 2003-2005
Guest, "Bright Nights Big City, Music New York", WNYE TV 25, 2003
Profile feature, "Orgullo Hispano", Univision, 2002
U.S. Representative, U.S. Mexico Fund for Culture, 1994-1995
Board Member, New York Foundation for the Arts 1992-94
Juror, Third Munich Biennale for New Music Theatre, April-May 1992
Board Member, American Music Center, 1985-1991; 2003
Board Member Academy of American Poets
ASCAP Advisory Board since 1989
Artistic Director of Composers Forum, 1987-1989
Board Member, Meet the Composer 1983-1991
National Endowment for the Arts Composer Panelist, 1980-1982
Co-founder, Meniscus Arts Mankind, 1980-1982
New York State Council on the Arts Composer Panelist, 1981, 1986
Robert Wilson productions, 1979, 1982
