For distinguished musical composition by an American in any of the larger forms including chamber, orchestral, choral, opera, song, dance, or other forms of musical theatre, which has had its first performance in the United States during the year, Three thousand dollars ($3,000).

Awarded to Stringmusic by Morton Gould, premiered on March 10, 1994, by the National Symphony Orchestra at The John F. Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C..

Morton Gould receiving his 1995 Pulitzer Prize from George Rupp, Columbia University President.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "Evensong" by Donald Erb, premiered on May 5, 1994, by The Cleveland Orchestra in Youngstown, Ohio, and "Adam, a cantata for mixed chorus with soprano solo and small orchestra" by Andrew Imbrie, premiered on November 4, 1994, at the New England Conservatory in Boston.