The Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music offers two major international prizes biennially.

The Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition honors classical music composers with a cash award of $100,000. The Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance recognizes pianists with a $50,000 cash award. The winners of both awards come to the Northwestern campus for a series of residencies, where they interact with Bienen School students and faculty as well as perform.

Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition

Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance