The Foundation for Iberian Music is proud to announce that Benet Casablancas (Sabadell, 1956) is the winner of the Tomás Luis de Victoria Prize (Premio SGAE de la Música Iberoamericana Tomás Luis de Victoria). Awarded by the SGAE Foundation (Sociedad General de Autores y Editores), it is Spain’s top honor for living composers from Ibero-America, recognizing their significant contributions to music and their impactful career in contemporary music and the arts. The prize celebrates living composers who enrich Ibero-American musical life and is considered the highest public recognition for composers in this field, it includes a monetary prize of €30,000. An international jury, including The Foundation for Iberian Music, selects the winner from nominated candidates. In 2023, Tania León (Havanna, 1943) also obtained the prize.

Both Casablancas and León have been commissioned compositions by the Foundation.

Check out Casablancas’ 2012 Composer’s Commission https://brookcenter.gc.cuny.edu/2012/06/26/homage-to-catalonia-in-celebration-of-the-centenary-of-xavier-montsalvatge/

Check out León’s 2011 Composer’s Commission https://brookcenter.gc.cuny.edu/2011/03/29/composers-comission-2012-distinguished-professor-tania-leon/

Casablancas and León have also collaborated in numerous projects including Casablancas Composer’s Portrait at Columbia University’s Miller Theater, curated by Antoni Pizà and a monographic concert at The Morgan Library, also curated by Pizà.

This award highlights the enduring legacy of the Renaissance master Tomás Luis de Victoria (c. 1548–1611) by honoring modern creators in the Spanish-speaking world.

Read la Fundación SGAE’s full award announcement and an interview with Casablancas  

https://fundacionsgae.org/actualidad/benet-casablancas-xx-premio-sgae-de-la-musica-iberoamericana-tomas-luis-de-victoria-2025/