The following overview is presented for public observation and reflects documented activity, performances, releases, and contributions connected specifically to the year 2025.

Edward Cowie (Australia)

In 2025, Edward Cowie’s work for flute was marked by high-level artistic collaboration and recording activity. His ongoing partnership with renowned Australian flutist Laura Chislett culminated in studio work and performances centered on Cowie’s flute repertoire, including material from the Duo Menurida project, where Cowie appears as pianist in his own music.

Cowie’s compositional voice — deeply informed by nature, structure, and narrative — continues to occupy a distinctive place in contemporary flute literature, particularly through works that explore extended musical storytelling and refined chamber textures.

Eugene Magalif (United States)

Eugene Magalif’s 2025 was defined by major premieres and international performance activity involving the flute. His Sacred Suite received its premiere in San Antonio, Texas, performed by the Fiesta Flutes ensemble, while his work For Lelya for flute and piano had its world premiere in New York in October 2025.

Magalif’s output this year demonstrates a continued commitment to the flute as a central expressive voice, engaging both soloists and large ensembles, and reinforcing his long-standing presence in contemporary flute composition.

Katrina Penman (Spain)

Katrina Penman’s nomination reflects a year focused on recorded repertoire and original works for flute. In 2025, selections from her album Beyond — released by Solfa Recordings — brought new flute compositions into wide circulation, including To Andalusia and Beyond.

Penman’s dual role as composer-performer places her work directly in dialogue with flutists, and her music continues to be shaped by stylistic clarity, cultural reference points, and an intimate understanding of the instrument.

Herman Beeftink (United States)

Herman Beeftink’s contribution to the flute repertoire in 2025 is notable for both volume and reach. During the year, he released four new flute works — three for flute and piano and one for solo flute — adding to a catalog that now includes over 90 flute pieces, all available for digital download.

His music, widely performed and frequently used in teaching studios, reflects a distinctive blend of lyricism, accessibility, and refined craftsmanship, and continues to circulate broadly through recordings, play-along editions, and online performances.

Manuel Carranza Cueto (Peru)

Manuel Carranza Cueto’s 2025 was marked by two significant milestones. In October, his Variations on the Melgar Waltz (Op. 29) received its world premiere in Lima, commissioned and dedicated to Paloma Chávez and performed by Duo AURUM.

Earlier in the year, his work Picaflor de Nazca (Op. 22) for two flutes was selected for performance at the 2025 National Flute Association Convention in Atlanta — one of the most visible international platforms for contemporary flute music.

Carranza Cueto’s work reflects a synthesis of Peruvian cultural heritage and modern compositional language, with growing international recognition.

A Category Defined by Diversity

Rather than a single stylistic direction, the Composer of the Year 2025 category presents a cross-section of contemporary flute composition today:

international premieres and large-scale works
recorded albums and studio collaborations
pedagogically significant repertoire
culturally rooted and globally performed music

Each nominee contributes to the flute’s evolving identity in a different way, making this category one of artistic breadth and depth.

Final results will be announced on January 10, 2026, following full review and scoring by the international judging panel.