For distinguished musical composition of significant dimension by an American that has had its first performance in the United States during the year, Five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Awarded to "Concerto for Flute, Strings and Percussion" by Melinda Wagner, premiered on May 30, 1998 by the Westchester Philharmonic in Purchase, New York, and commissioned by that orchestra for Paul Lustig Dunkel.

Columbia University Provost Jonathan R. Cole presents Melinda Wagner with the 1999 Pulitzer Prize in Music.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "Persistent Memory" by David Rakowski, premiered on March 7, 1998 by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and "Concerto for Orchestra" by Stanislav Skorwaczewski, premiered on November 19, 1998 by the Curtis Symphony at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia.