Female Composer Spotlight: Julie Giroux

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the females whose compositions will be performed at our spring concert on May 28 at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts. Today we feature Julie Giroux, born and raised in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. By the age of three, she was already playing piano, and by the age of eight, Ms. Giroux was composing her first works. She was 13 when she published her first piece for concert band.

With over 100 film, television, and video game credits, Ms. Giroux has collaborated with dozens of film composers, producers, and celebrities, including Samuel Goldwyn, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Madonna, Liza Minnelli, Celene Dion, Paula Abdul, Michael Jackson, Paul Newman, Harry Connick Jr. and many others. Projects she has worked on have been nominated for Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Golden Globe awards. Ms. Giroux has won individual Emmy Awards in “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction”. When she won her first Emmy Award, she was the first woman and the youngest person ever to win that award, and she has won it three times!

In June 2018, Ms. Giroux completed her 5th Symphony “Sun, Rain & Wind”. The piece has been performed at music festivals all over the world. Giroux has been a true force in a male-dominated field and has accrued many previously male-only awards. She is an inspiration to women composers everywhere.

Let us know which musical women you’re celebrating this Women’s History Month and beyond!