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” (The New York Times). Carlson draws equal inspiration from classical traditions and modern aesthetics, crafting vibrant, profound concert music that engages deeply with the continuing story of tonality. Writing of his string quartet Edges, the Times noted that “this rhapsodic piece is by turns agitated, searching and plaintive… the piece has real narrative sweep.”
He is the recipient of numerous national and international honors, including the Aspen Music Festival’s Jacob Druckman Prize, fellowships from MacDowell and Copland House, the grand prize in Symphony Number One’s Composer Competition, the Edward T. Cone Composition Institute, the Duo Cortona Prize, the International Trumpet Guild Call for Scores, two first prizes in the MACRO Composers Competition, and two nominations for prestigious composition awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
His music is performed internationally by acclaimed soloists, ensembles, and orchestras, including the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Daedalus String Quartet, the violin/viola duo andPlay, the 21st Century Consort, the Khemia Ensemble, the Blue Violet Duo, the soundSCAPE Composition and Performance Exchange, the Fuse Trio, Network for New Music, Duo Cortona, Aether Eos, and the Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra.
Recent and upcoming activity includes the premiere performances of Measure (2026) for piano quintet with Matthew Bengtson and the Daedalus String Quartet, Piano Sonata (2026) written for pianist Clara Christian, Patterns: Book II—Shapes (2026) for solo piano, Timepieces (2025) for violin and viola, Render (2024, Winner of the CreArtBox Open Call) for clarinet and interactive electronics, Gamer (2023) for percussion and electronics, and Birds, a song cycle in collaboration with poet Suzanne Rhodes.
Carlson holds a Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude, from the University of Oregon, a Master of Music from Rice University, and a Ph.D. in Music Composition from the University of Pennsylvania. Since 2016, he has served as Associate Professor of Music at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, where he coordinates the composition and theory programs and directed orchestral activities from 2016 to 2024. He also serves as Vice President of Auditions and Composition Chair of the Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA), coordinating statewide composer competitions and commissions.