Allen Shawn

Allen Shawn is a distinguished composer and pianist at Bennington College, where he has taught since 1985. His creative work spans orchestral and chamber music, chamber operas, songs, and music for ballet, theatre, and film, alongside acclaimed writings on Arnold Schoenberg, Leonard Bernstein, and personal memoirs.

• BA, Harvard University
• Study with Nadia Boulanger
• MA, Columbia University

Shawn's research and artistic interests focus on music composition, historical forms, and interdisciplinary exploration of music's role in culture and storytelling. His diverse output includes works for piano, electronic/acoustic hybrid compositions, and analyses of 20th-century musical figures.

Notable accolades include prestigious awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and his recordings and scores are published by prominent international labels and publishers. He has taught a wide range of courses, from traditional forms to contemporary composition techniques.

Scientific Awards

• Goddard Lieberson Fellowship (1995)
• Academy Award in Music (2001)