Born in Mexico in 1963, Emil Awad studied composition and conducting at the Juilliard and Manhattan Schools of Music before earning a doctorate at Harvard University. Ensembles such as Cygnus, Kolot, Harvard Group of New Music, Manhattan Contemporary Ensemble, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico have played his compositions internationally.
He has received grants from the National Endowment for Culture and the Arts of Mexico (2001, 2002), National Institute of Arts of Mexico (2000, 2005), and the State of Veracruz Institute of Culture (1999, 2005). He has been Composer-in-Residence and guest lecturer at universities such as University of Houston (2011); City University of New York (2010), Autónoma de Zacatecas, Mexico (2009); Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico (2008, 2009); Victoria, Canada (2007); and has been recognized for excellence in teaching by Harvard (1989, 1990); Conservatorio de las Rosas (1994-98) and Universidad Veracruzana (2005, 2008, 2011), Mexico.
Currently, Emil Awad is professor of composition and theory at the University of Veracruz, where he is a fellow of the Academic Advisory Board of the President and Director of Graduate Studies. He is a member of the American Composers Alliance, and has been Artistic Director of the International New Music Festival Camerata 21 (1998-present). He holds a commission by the National Endowment for the Arts and Culture of Mexico to compose throughout 2012-2014.