Barbara Jazwinski

Dr. Barbara Jazwinski studied composition and theory at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland. She received her M.A. degree in composition and piano from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in composition from the City University of New York. Her teachers included Mario Davidovsky, Gyorgy Ligeti, and John Chowning. Currently, she is Head of the Composition Program at the Newcomb Music Department, Tulane University, in New Orleans. 

Jazwinski’s music has been heard throughout North America, Europe, and the Far East. Her portfolio includes over 100 original compositions in various genres and for many different instrumental and vocal ensembles including works for symphony orchestra with and without vocal or instrumental soloists, compositions for string orchestra and chamber orchestra, a ballet, works for chamber ensembles such as duets, trios, quartets, quintets, and sextets along with compositions for solo instruments. 

Among her awards are the Prince Pierre of Monaco Composition Award for Sextet (1981), and the First Prize in the Nicola De Lorenzo Composition Contest for her work Music for Chamber Orchestra (1975). Her compositions are available on several recording labels including Vienna Modern Masters (Stryga for symphony orchestra and Sequenze Concertanti for string orchestra), Capstone (Visions for clarinet solo and Winter Dreams for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion), Lorelt (The Girl by the Ocean for baritone and piano), Ravello (Images in Blue for saxophone quartet) and Musiques Suisses (Blue Tango). Her album entitled Designs in Blue Shadows was published in 2020 and is currently available on dozens of websites and radio stations including Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, Spotify, Naxos, and YouTube. The works on that album include the Invocations, Incantations, Dialoghi, Designs in Blue Shadows, Fantasy on Jazz, and Soliloquy. Her composition dreams, interrupted… commissioned by the London Festival of American Music, was recorded by Aaron Larget-Caplan for release on Shelter Recordings, New York City (2020). The Lorelt album Women’s Voices that features her work (The Girl by the Ocean) was selected as Album of the Week #21 by DONNE365, UK (2020). 

Jazwinski’s compositions have been selected for programming at many well-known concert series and international festivals. She is the recipient of numerous commissions, grants, and fellowships including commissions from Sonora Winds, Newcomb-Tulane Choir, ISCM Polish Section – PTMW, London Festival of American Music, New York University New Music Ensemble, Louisiana Music Teachers Association, Esther Lamneck, Jeremy Hew Williams, Louisiana Sinfonietta, New Hudson Saxophone Quartet, Chamber Music Center at the Composers’ Conference at Wellesley College, Quatuor Francis Poulenc, an Artist Fellowship from the Louisiana State Arts Council, grants from the Presser Foundation, Newcomb Foundation, Metzner Foundation, Meet the Composer, Inc., and many others. 

Jazwinski has also been active as a performer, conductor, and promoter of contemporary music. Since 1988, she has served as Music Director of Spectri Sonori, an award-winning concert series that specializes in performance of contemporary music.