The Australian Women's Register

Jennifer Fowler was born in Bunbury, Western Australia, in 1939. She studied at the University of Western Australia, during which time she won several composition prizes. While still a student, her pieces were performed in the Festival of Perth and broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). In 1968 Fowler spent a year working at the Electronic Music Studios of the University of Utrecht on a Dutch Government scholarship. Since 1969 she has been living in London where she works as a free-lance composer.

Fowler’s output includes orchestral works, chamber pieces, works for voice and instrumental ensemble, solo music and vocal ensembles. Her international prizes include an award from the Academy of the Arts in Berlin (1970), joint winner of the Radcliffe Award of Great Britain; first prize in the GEDOK International Competition for Women Composers (1975) and the Miriam Gideon prize from the International Association of Women in Music (2003).

Fowler’s works are regularly performed at international festivals; past performances include the ISCM World Music Days, the Gaudeamus Music Week (Holland), the Huddersfield Festival of Contemporary Music (UK), the International Sydney Spring Festival and Women in Music festivals in USA, UK, Italy and Australia. She has received commissions from organisations including the British Broadcasting Commission (BBC), the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), the Festival of Perth, the Music Board of the Australia Council, The Song Company (Sydney), Donne in Musica (Italy) and Women in Music (UK).