Mary Lou Prince is a composer, conductor and performer. After completing a masters degree in music composition in the United States and studying with Nadia Boulanger for a year in Paris, she lived in Japan for over two decades, working with Japanese instruments and theater forms. Her work for Japanese koto and shakuhachi won national composition awards and was performed in festivals and on "Noh" stages in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Kanazawa. She was commissioned to compose new music for Geisha musicians, theater, film and a TV documentary that was shortlisted for an Emmy Award. Her music has been broadcast over numerous media including the BBC, NHK in Japan, and NPR. She has composed three choral song cycles, two symphonies, a chamber opera, solo and chamber music. Her choral song cycle Songs of the Earth was featured at the Parliament of World Religions in Salt Lake City and she was commissioned to write the theme song for the Parliament opening ceremony. Women of Courage, her second choral song cycle, has been performed by several choirs across the United States. Topaz, for string orchestra and harp was performed by Sinfonia Salt Lake and in Tucson at the "Nadia Boulanger and Her Students Festival." Her most recent choral song cycle, They Went to War, inspired by stories from World War II, will premiere in Prescott Arizona in October, 2025.
Conducting a choir representing over 20 faith traditions in Songs of the Earth at the 2015 Parliament of World Religions in Salt Lake City
Conducting Songs of the Earth
Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City
After the premiere performance of "Women of Courage" in Prescott Arizona, September 5 2023 with lyricist Patty Christiena Willis
