Home / Laureates / Amanda Lee Falkenberg
Portrait of Amanda Lee Falkenberg
Laureate

Amanda Lee Falkenberg

Australia

Amanda Lee Falkenberg is an internationally acclaimed composer and pianist whose musical journey began in Australia, where she trained classically from a young age. She studied piano performance at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, and this foundation as a performer laid the groundwork for an expansive and exploratory career in composition.

Early in her career, she worked as a ballet accompanist for the Australian Ballet Company—an experience that deeply influenced her musical voice and sparked a passion for composing for movement. This led to the creation of Edge of the World, a 30-minute ballet for piano and orchestra, and the release of several ballet CDs that have become staples in studios across the globe.

Her orchestral works have reached international stages, culminating in THE MOONS SYMPHONY, a seven-movement journey inspired by the scientific wonders of the outer solar system. A major highlight came when the MOONS symphonic suite was featured at the Ravinia Music Festival, performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop. The performance was enhanced by stunning space imagery, immersing audiences in a multi-sensory experience that celebrated the fusion of science and music.

The work also served as the centerpiece of the Breaking Barriers Festival, where it was celebrated for its interdisciplinary power—bridging art, science, and education in a single visionary symphonic experience.

Falkenberg continues to inspire curiosity through her educational initiative, LUNAR – Learning Under New Artistic Regimes, which brings the symphony into classrooms and lecture halls, connecting students of all ages to the cosmos through music.

Latest Recognition
  • Absolute Winner
Composition
World's Best Musicians Competition — 2/2025
Awards & Recognitions

A timeline of recognition

World's Best Musicians Competition — 2/2025
Composition
THE MOONS SYMPHONY is a groundbreaking orchestral work composed by Amanda Lee Falkenberg, inviting listeners on a powerful journey through the outer Solar System. Each of its seven movements is inspired by a different moon, translating scientific discoveries into rich, emotional soundscapes. From the volcanic fury of Jupiter’s Io to the towering ice cliffs of Miranda, the giant geysers of Enceladus, and the methane lakes and rivers of Titan, the music brings to life the dynamic forces shaping these distant worlds. What sets THE MOONS SYMPHONY apart is its direct collaboration with leading scientists and space agencies, including NASA and The Planetary Society. This vivid fusion of art and science transforms data-driven insights into music that stirs the soul. The final movement returns to Earth’s moon, drawing on the legacy of the Apollo missions and the iconic Earthrise photograph—a timeless reminder of our fragile, shared home. Recorded in 2022 by the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop, THE MOONS SYMPHONY is more than a concert—it is a cosmic celebration and a call to unity. Designed to ignite curiosity and foster planetary awareness, it bridges science and art in a deeply human way
  • Absolute Winner