Susie Ibarra – Sky Islands

Pulitzer Prize winner Susie Ibarra presents an interdisciplinary work in which percussion, installation and Filipino musical traditions come together. The project connects sound, biodiversity and ecological awareness around the threatened ecosystems of Luzon. Susie Ibarra is a Filipino-American composer, percussionist and sound artist. In 2025 she received the Pulitzer Prize for Music for Sky Islands, an interdisciplinary work that connects ecosystems, biodiversity and musical traditions. Ibarra is actively committed to preserving indigenous music cultures, such as musika katutubo from the Philippines, and supports initiatives around water management, climate and education for women and girls. Sky Islands is inspired by the musical traditions of Luzon and translates them into a performative sound installation. The work refers to the so-called 'sky islands': isolated mountainous areas at high altitude that harbour unique ecosystems and exceptional biodiversity. In the music, the interlocking rhythms and melodies from bamboo, gong and flute music of the Kalinga and Cordillera region resound. With Sky Islands, Ibarra connects musical innovation with ecological awareness. The work draws attention to the threatened rainforests of Luzon and invites us to reconsider our relationship with vulnerable ecosystems and the changing climate.