Leo Sowerby

Leo Sowerby (May 1, 1895–July 7, 1968), American composer and church musician, was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1946, and was often called the “Dean of American church music” in the early to mid 20th century. Sowerby was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he began to compose at the age of ten. His violin concerto was premiered in 1913 by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 1921 he was awarded the Prix de Rome (from the American Academy in Rome), the first composer to receive this.