Composer Ellen Reid was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music Monday for her L.A. Opera production “prism,” which debuted in November at the REDCAT theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Reid, who splits her time between Los Angeles and New York, wrote on her Instagram page she is “blown away and incredibly honored” by the accolade.
“Composing `prism’ was a challenging, rewarding and deeply personal experience, and I hope this opera will help shed light on the experience of surviving sexual assault,” she wrote. “While (librettist) Roxie (Perkins) and I did not plan for the timeliness of the subject matter, I am so grateful that it has resonated with audiences.”
She thanked all of her collaborators on the project, and added, “Now I’m going to listen to some Aretha to celebrate!”
The late Aretha Franklin was also awarded a Pulitzer Prize on Monday for her contributions to music.
Scott Harrison, executive director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra — for which Reid is about to become a creative adviser and composer-in-residence — called her win ” a big day for the L.A. music community.”
“Ellen was recognized specifically for her gripping debut opera (that) premiered in 2018, the same year in which she had LACO, L.A. Phil, L.A. Opera and Master Chorale premieres,” he said.
He also noted that LACO’s outgoing creative adviser and composer-in-residence, Andrew Norman, was a finalist for the Pulitzer won by Reid.
“We are all incredibly excited for Ellen as well as for Andrew, and for all this means for Los Angeles, truly the capital of the new music world,” Harrison said.