LUKE CARLSON Composer & Conductor
About
The music of composer and conductor Luke Carlson (b. 1983) has been described as “yielding fascinating timbres” (Washington Classical Review), “magical”, and “otherworldly” (Philadelphia Inquirer) and “personal and strong” (New York Times). Carlson draws equal inspiration from classical traditions and modern aesthetics, crafting vibrant and profound music that engages with the continuing story of tonality.
He is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Aspen Music Festival’s Jacob Druckman Prize, a
Copland House Fellowship, a MacDowell Fellowship, the grand prize in Symphony Number One’s Composer
Competition, the Edward
T.
Cone Composition Institute, two first prizes in the MACRO Composers Competition, and two nominations
for
composition awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Latest News
I have been commissioned to compose a new work for two pianos to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). The work will be premiered Nov. 7, 2026 by pianists Hye-Jung Hong and Christopher Madden at the MMTA State Conference and Auditions in St. Louis, MO.
Render, for clarinet and interactive electronics, was selected as a winner of the CreArtBox Open Call. The piece will be presented in an upcoming CreArtBox concert during the 2026-2027 season in New York, NY.
My twelve-video course on how to use Dorico, music notation software, is now available. The course can be found here.
music
Carlson’s music ranges in variety from orchestral and chamber works, to
vocal, choral, and electronic compositions. He is also an active arranger of sacred and secular
music.
complete catalogue
upcoming events
Sonata
piano
Clara Christian, piano
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
Birds, a song cycle
voice & piano
Jill Phillips, soprano
Ruoyang Xiang, piano
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO
New Work
two pianos
Hye-Jung Hong, piano
Christopher Madden, piano
University of Missouri at St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Birds, a song cycle
voice & piano
Jill Phillips, soprano
Ruoyang Xiang, piano
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
Measure
piano quintet
Matthew Bengtson, piano
Min-Young Kim, violin
Matilda Kaul, violin
Jessica Thompson, viola
Angela Park, cello
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
Book of Things
piano & interactive
electronics
Christopher Goddard, piano
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO