Harry Bulow

Music Theory, Composition

Biography

 

Harry Bulow has had a distinguished career as a composer, director, saxophonist and music administrator. He began his career as Director of Bands at Santa Barbara City College, served as Chair of the Department of Music at the University of Hawaii, Director of the Center for Music Technology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Chaired the Mary Morgan School of Music, Theatre and Dance at Lamar University. From 2009 till 2019 he served as Head of the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts at Purdue University now known as the School of Design, Art, and Performance. During that period of time, the school’s national rankings improved significantly and its offerings in Music, Theatre, Dance and Art and Design all saw new directions in degree offerings, on-line opportunities and national and regional engagement.

Bulow received his bachelor’s degree in music education from San Diego State University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in music theory and composition from UCLA (1978, 1983). He studied composition and orchestration with Aaron Copland, Peter Mennin, Henri Lazarof, Roy Travis, David Ward-Steinman and Henry Mancini. His works have received numerous awards including 1st Prize at the International Composers Competition in Trieste, Italy, the “Oscar Espla” Prize from the city of Alicante, Spain, a NEA Composer Fellowship and 37 consecutive awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. His works have been performed by numerous bands, orchestras and choirs throughout the United States, Europe and Asia including the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Sofia, Bulgaria, Omaha Symphony, Honolulu Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble the Moscow National Symphonic Band and the Dallas Wind Symphony. His style is eclectic in approach and broad in its appeal. He is at home in jazz, concert, film and sacred music. The major influences in his work include the music of Witold Lutoslawski, Karel Husa, Peter Mennin, Aaron Copland and Henry Mancini.

Specialization

Music Theory, Composition, Electronic Music

Published Compositions

Interactions, GIA Publications, Chicago, IL,

Kakkazan for Band, Robert Martin Editions, France

Textures for Wind Ensemble, Alfred Publications, Van Nuys, CA

Fanfare for Freedom, Songbird Publications, Dallas, TX

Mutations for Flute, Alfred Music, Los Angeles

Introduction and Allegro, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, Glenmoore, PA

Elegy for Saxophone, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Syntax II for Saxophone, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Contours for Clarinet, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Contours for Flute, Silver Mace Publications, Los Angeles, CA

Syntax I for Flute, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Adieu for Flute, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Adieu for Clarinet, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Sarabande and Bourree by J.S. Bach, edited by Harry Bulow, Roncorp/Northeastern Music

Canzona a4 by Giovanni Gabrieli, transcribed for saxophone quartet, Roncorp, PA

Six Fanfares for Two Trumpets, Silver Mace Publications, Los Angeles, CA

Sonata for Piano, Silver Mace Publications, Los Angeles, CA

Suite for Piano, Silver Mace Publications, Los Angeles, CA

Mixed Motives for Piano, Silver Mace Publications, Los Angeles, CA

High Rise for Piano, Silver Mace Publications, Los Angeles, CA

Boulevard Blues for Two Pianos, Silver Mace Publications, Los Angeles, CA

 

Professional Recordings

Sonata for Piano, Haewon Yang, piano, PARMA/Navona Records, 2025

Suite for Piano, Haewon Yang, piano, PARMA/Navona Records, 2025

Boulevard Blues, Haewon Yang and John Noel Roberts, pianists, PARMA Records, 2025

High Rise, Haewon Yang, piano, PARMA/Navona Records, 2025

Mixed Motives, Haewon Yang, PARMA/Navona Records, 2025

Mixed Motives, Max Lifchitz, piano, North/South Consonance Recordings, 2025

Mixed Motives, Jeffrey Jacob, piano, Ariel Records, 2022

Mixed Motives, Martin Jones, piano, PnOVA Records, 2019

Textures for Wind Ensemble, Eastern Kentucky University Wind Ensemble, Joseph Allison, conductor, Silver Mace Publications, 2016

Kakkazan for Band, Eastern Kentucky University Wind Ensemble, Joseph Allison, conductor, SMP, 2016

Spectrum for Brass Quintet, Composers Brass Quintet, SMP, 2016

Esprit de Corps, Lamar University Trumpet Ensemble, SMP, 2016

Fanfare for Freedom, DePauw University Band, Craig Paré, conductor, SMP, 2016

Indiana Dunes, Trio Quelque Chose, Greg Kostraba, piano, Rico McNeela, violin, Robert Garcia, horn, 2013

Syntax for Flute, Lisa Hansen, flute, North/South Recordings, 2012

Suite for Piano, Max Lifchitz, piano, North/South Records, 2012

Lines, Curves and Voluminous Variations, North/South Ensemble, Max Lifchitz, conductor, North/South Recordings, 2005

Contours for Clarinet, Harry Bulow, clarinet, Capstone Records, New York, NY, 2004

Kakkazan, for Traditional Japanese Instrument and Western Wind Instruments, University of Hawaii at Hilo

Chamber and Japanese Ensembles, John Kusinski, conductor, Capstone Records, 2004

Sonata for Piano, John Noel Roberts, piano, Capstone Records, 2004

Dance of the Insect Insomniac, electronic media, Capstone Records, 2004

Syntax II for Saxophone, Harry Bulow, alto saxophone, Capstone Records, 2004

Silent Holocaust, electronic media, Capstone Records, 2004

Adieu for Clarinet, Harry Bulow, clarinet, Capstone Records, 2004

Symphony for Band, U.S. Air Force Band, Washington, D.C., Crest Records, 1978

Film, Video and Commercial Music Scores

March Madness 2005-25, EA Sports Games

College Hoops, ESPN 2K5-25

The Burglar (film), Fazio Productions, Los Angeles, Winner of an American Film Institute Award for Excellence
Agatha (film), Leon Productions, Los Angeles

Book Chapters, Articles and Other Literary Publications

Composing Outside the Box: Learning Graphic Notation, Extended Techniques and Directed Improvisation in Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, GIA Publications, Chicago, IL, 2013

Problems and Issues Facing a Young Composer in Symposium: The Journal of the College Music Society, Vol. 24, N. 2, Fall 1984

Awards

Golden Keys Award, Golden Keys of Vienna Music Festival, Vienna, Austria, 2nd Prize, Professional Division, 2025

American Prize, Chaconne for Strings, Finalist, 2024

Composers Now Award in Musical Composition, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), 2024

38 Consecutive Awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, 1980-2018

3rd Prize, Hillcrest Wind Ensemble Composition Contest, 2012

Dallas Wind Symphony Fanfare Composition Award, 2006

First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal, Music Theory, 2004

Billboard National Song Writing Competition, Honorable Mention, 1999

Tampa Bay Composers Forum Awards, 1st Prize, 1998

Speculum Musicae Composition Awards, Tulane University, 1994, Honorable Mention

“Oscar Espla” International Composers Prize, Alicante, Spain, 1986

Harvey Gaul Composition Prize, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, 1986

Illinois State University Fine Arts Awards in Composition, 1986

Eastman Wind Ensemble Awards in Composition, 1986

Minnesota Orchestra’s 75th Anniversary, Award in Composition, Honorable Mention, 1985

New Music Award, Omaha Symphony, 1982

ASCAP Awards to Young Composers, 1980

National Band Association’s Award in Composition, 1980

Atwater-Kent Award in Composition, UCLA, 1980

Gus Kahn Award in Composition, UCLA, 1980

Axel Stordahl Award in Composition, UCLA, 1980

1st Prize, Symposium for New Band Music, Univ. of Richmond, 1979

Jacksonville University Composition Prizes, Honorable Mention, 1979

Henry Mancini Award for Music in Motion Pictures and Television Films, 1979

Sigvald Thompson Award for Symphonic Composition, 1979

Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra Award in Composition, 1978

National Flute Association Award in Composition, 1977

American Bandmasters Association Award in Composition, 1977

1st Prize, International Composers Competition, Trieste, Italy, 1977

Tucson Flute Club’s Award in Musical Composition, Tucson, AZ, 1977

 

Grants and Commissions

ASPIRE Grants, Purdue University, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023

CREATE Grants, Purdue University, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025

Quelque Chose Trio, 2011

Imagine Music Publications, New York, NY, 2005

First Presbyterian Church, Concord, NC, 2005

North Carolina Arts Council Composer Fellowships, 1996, 2002

North Carolina Regional Artist Project Grant, 2001

Mercer University, Macon, GA, 2000

Numerous Meet-the-Composer Grants, 1986, 1987, 1995

University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Research Grant, 1994

University of Hawaii, 1989-90

National Flute Association, 1989

National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship, 1986

Music Association of the California Community Colleges, 1986

North Carolina Music Teachers Association, 1997

Significant National and International Performances

Sofia Music and Art Festival, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Chromatic Inventions for String Quartet, Mivos String Quartet, Mozarthaus, Vienna, Austria, 2024

North/South Consonance New York Premieres, 2021, 2020, 2023, 2025

Martin Jones, British Pianist, National Concert Tour, 2019

Indianapolis Wind Symphony, 2019

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, 2013

International Trumpet Guild, 2009

Moscow National Symphonic Band, Moscow, Russian, 2005

Conservatory of Music, Salerno, Italy, 2005

National Symposium on Wind Band Repertoire, New England Conservatory of Music, 2004

International Composers Competition, Coups de Vents, Lille, France, 2004

North/South Consonance, NYC, 1992, 95, 97, 2004, 2012

National Flute Association Conventions, 1998, 2000

Honolulu Symphony, 1991

MENC National Convention, 1987

San Antonio Symphony, 1986

Omaha Symphony, 1983

Eastman Wind Ensemble, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2009, 2015

Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, 1986

Numerous CBDNA Regional and National Conferences, 1980-2013

International Composers Competition, Alicante Spain, 1986

International Composers Competition, Trieste, Italy, 1977

Recent Major Performances

 

Sofia Music and Art Festival, Sofia Bulgaria, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Tyler Austin, conductor, Concertino for Bb Clarinet and Orchestra, 2025

Vienna Contemporary Composers Festival, Mivos String Quartet, Mozarthaus, Vienna, Austria, 2024

Sofia Music and Art Festival, Sofia Bulgaria, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Timothy Bulow, conductor, Chaconne for Strings, 2024

Sofia Music and Art Festival, Sofia Bulgaria, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Evan Harger, conductor, Skyscraper for Orchestra, 2023

Sofia Music and Art Festival, Sofia Bulgaria, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Simeon Peronkoff, conductor, Primary Structures for Orchestra, 2022

Indianapolis Wind Symphony, Textures for Wind Ensemble, Charles Conrad, conductor, Indianapolis Palladium, November 10, 2019

College Music Society, Great Lakes Chapter Regional Conference, Minimal Modal Mixtures for Eb Alto Saxophone and Piano, Aaron Durst, saxophone and Oxana Khramova, piano, University of Wisconsin, Stout, Mabel Tainter

Center for the Arts, Menomonie, WI, April 5, 2019

College Music Society, Great lakes Regional Conference, Inventions for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Harry Bulow, alto saxophone, Ellen Bulow, piano, Otterbein University, Westerville, OH, April 6, 2018

Society of Composers National Conference, Inventions for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Harry Bulow, alto saxophone,

Ellen Bulow, piano, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, March 2, 2018

North American Saxophone Alliance, Region 5 Conference, Syntax II for Alto Saxophone, Harry Bulow, alto saxophone, Purdue University-Fort Wayne, March 4, 2017