The International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM) is thrilled to announce the winners of its 2024 Search for New Music Competition. The competition recognizes the accomplishments of IAWM member composers and fosters IAWM’s goal of increasing awareness of the musical contributions of women. IAWM hopes that performers around the world will see this as a resource for their own concert programming. This year we received 108 qualified and accepted submissions.

2024 Ruth Anderson Commission Prize ($1000)

Commission for a new sound installation with electroacoustic music.

Winner: Shabnan Jafarinasab Kermani, Iran/USA – Gisovān: Voicing a Revolution

Shabnam J. Kermani is a music composer, producer, engineer, and audiovisual artist from Tehran, Iran, residing in San Francisco, California. A 2022 Berklee College of Music Film Scoring graduate, she gained her Master’s degree in Music Production, Technology, and Innovation at Berklee València in 2023. Currently working as a professional composer, producer, and visual design artist, she has composed music for concert, and original scores for numerous short films in various styles of music and instrumental arrangements. Shabnam has formally studied Classical Piano for 17 years and composition for 6 years in Iran and the U.S. She has always been fascinated by the power of music as a storyteller that brings people of all backgrounds together. She aspires to bring a unique and innovative voice to the professional music industry as an artist, creator, and human who combines storytelling, technology, history, mythology, while highlighting the importance of compassion and resilience. https://www.shabnamjkermani.com/

Gisovān: Voicing a Revolution is an artistic reaction, reflection, and protest in response to the women-led revolution in Iran. The aim of this project is to bring sound, structure, and visuals together in an interactive installation that focuses on, and raises awareness of the on-going human rights events in Iran. With a touch-triggered mechanism, interaction is an essential feature of this installation as it encourages audience participation, invites them to learn the background and relevant information behind the global “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, and raises the voice of the Iranian people. This project features originally-composed melodic and harmonic vocal lines, exclusively sung by female singers. The audience can trigger the playback, and create their unique anthems; thus, joining the movement in their own way. Website for the work: https://shabnamjkermani.wixsite.com/gisovan  

2024 Christine Clark/Theodore Front Prize ($500)

Sponsored by Christine Clark of Theodore Front  Musical Literature, Inc., for a large chamber work (9+ instruments) and/or orchestral works; may  include works featuring soloists (vocal or instrumental).

Winner: Elizabeth J. Start, USA – Traces: Inspired by Strong Women