Henri Lazarof Living Legacy

Henri Lazarof International Commission Prize

Fifth Annual Henri Lazarof International Commission Prize on a purple background

Henri Lazarof once said, “The world is big enough for all kinds of composers. … I try to always write for new instrumental forces — to search out the limits of the performer and one’s own limits as a composer.” The Henri Lazarof International Commission Prize will provide support to composers attempting to do the same today.

The winner of the annual prize will receive a commission for an original work for select instruments. The specific instrumentation will change each year to complement an existing work by Henri Lazarof, and the commissioned piece will be performed alongside Lazarof's work. 

Instrumentation for the 2024 prize is string trio (violin, viola, cello). Electronic music components and/or multimedia may also be included. The winner will be awarded a $15,000 commission prize, and the winning composition will be performed at Brandeis University in the spring of 2025.