A classical musician deeply committed to life’s meaning, composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (1939–) was born in Miami, Florida. In 1983, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in music, honored for her Symphony No. 1.

"When I was a toddler I climbed up on a piano bench and found out what happened when I banged on it—and I’m still fascinated," she said.

A graduate of Florida State University and The Juilliard School, Zwilich described composition as a lifelong journey of learning. Her works are known for their passion, clarity, and deep emotional resonance.

Her Millennium Fantasy was inspired by a folk tune her grandmother sang to her in childhood. “I can still hear her voice when I remember this,” she explained. “It was a joy to create a musical fantasy based on it.”

One of America’s most respected composers, Zwilich continues to write for top orchestras and musicians. “If it doesn’t give you goosebumps,” she said, “there’s something wrong.”

She once reflected, “There’s something eternal in music—like love, or a spiritual experience. I write for people who truly want to play. And that’s priceless.”