João Pedro Oliveira is one of only 12 composers worldwide selected for the honor; will premiere new work in 2027.
João Pedro Oliveira, professor and Corwin chair of composition at UC Santa Barbara, has been awarded the 2025 Fromm Music Foundation Commission from Harvard University.
Oliveira is one of only 12 composers selected globally for this year’s cohort. The commission, which has supported some of the most innovative voices in contemporary music for more than 70 years, recognizes composers of “exceptional vision.”
A new work for 2027
As part of the commission, Oliveira will compose a bold new work for the Tempo Ensemble, a contemporary chamber group based at California State University, Northridge.
True to Oliveira’s signature style, the piece will create dialogue between acoustic instrumentation and electronic sounds. It will feature a chamber ensemble of five to six instruments integrated with electronics. The world premiere is scheduled to take place at UC Santa Barbara in 2027, likely as part of the Corwin Concert Series, bringing the fruits of this Harvard-backed commission directly to the campus stage.
Bridging architecture and sound
Born in Portugal, Oliveira brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective to the Department of Music. Holding degrees in both architecture and music, his work often exhibits a structural complexity and spatial awareness that sets it apart in the field of electroacoustic music.
Since joining UCSB as the Corwin chair, Oliveira has solidified the university’s reputation as a hub for electronic music and avant-garde composition. His works have been performed across Europe, Asia and the Americas, earning him over 70 international awards. These include the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, the American Prize in Composition and the Giga-Hertz Award from ZKM in Germany.
“João’s selection for the Fromm Commission is a testament not only to his individual brilliance but to the caliber of artistic research happening right here at UCSB,” said Daina Ramey Berry, the Michael Douglas Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts. “His work consistently pushes the envelope of what is possible in sound, and we are thrilled to see him recognized by Harvard on this global stage.”