Cornell Honors Legacy of Pulitzer-Winning Composer Steven Stucky

Department of Music celebrates Stucky's impact with concerts, premieres, and reunion performance

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Ten years after the death of Steven Stucky, the Given Foundation Professor of Music Emeritus at Cornell, the Department of Music is honoring the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and beloved professor with a series of concerts that highlight his legacy and the creativity he inspired in generations of students.

Why it matters

Stucky shaped Cornell's musical community for over three decades, blending modern complexity with sophisticated orchestration and helping bring contemporary repertoire to wider audiences. The events reflect his broad influence as a teacher and composer.

The details

The four events this semester - including intimate recitals, premieres, and a large Reunion‑weekend concert - are organized by Stucky's former colleague, pianist and music professor Xak Bjerken. They feature works by Stucky as well as his students and collaborators, showcasing the aesthetic diversity he championed.

  • The celebration began on January 23 with a concert pairing Stucky's final song with Schubert works.
  • On February 22, Ensemble X will present the East Coast premiere of Stucky's last unpublished work, "The Music of Light".
  • During Mayfest, Cornell will premiere a piano quintet by Joseph Phibbs, a former Stucky student, written in his honor.
  • The final event on June 6 is a reunion concert featuring works by Stucky and eight of his former doctoral students, many now prominent composers.

The players

Steven Stucky

The Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and Given Foundation Professor of Music Emeritus at Cornell, who shaped the university's musical community for over three decades.

Xak Bjerken

Pianist, music professor at Cornell, and founder of Ensemble X, which he co-founded with Stucky nearly 30 years ago.

Brian V. Sengdala

A doctoral student in the Department of Performing and Media Arts who performed Stucky's final song for voice and piano.

Joseph Phibbs

A composer who studied under Stucky at Cornell and wrote a new piano quintet in his honor.

Anna Weesner

The Weiss Professor of Music at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former doctoral student of Stucky's.

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What they’re saying

“People may not realize how much Steve gave to Cornell and to our arts community. His touch as a teacher was so gentle, but incredibly effective. His students have gone on to compose in every imaginable style.”

— Xak Bjerken, Pianist and music professor at Cornell (Mirage News)

“Steve's ongoing encouragement helped me gain confidence as a composer, caring less about what others thought of my music, what I 'should' be writing, and focusing on my own goals as an artist. He also modeled being supportive of other composers and their work rather than competing with them.”

— Sally Lamb, Composer (Mirage News)

“Steve changed my life both in how he exposed me to so much great new music, but also in how he modeled a selfless colleague and friend. He's responsible for commissioning some of what we now consider the great pieces of the last 30 to 40 years.”

— Xak Bjerken, Pianist and music professor at Cornell (Mirage News)

What’s next

The final event in the series honoring Stucky's legacy is the reunion concert on June 6, featuring works by the composer and eight of his former doctoral students.

The takeaway

Through his teaching, composing, and championing of new music, Steven Stucky left an indelible mark on Cornell's musical community and inspired generations of students to pursue their creative passions.