Awards & Winners

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music

Drama Desk Award

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre among Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. The award was originally entitled Best Composter, before being renamed to its current title in 1969. The award is often referred to as Outstanding Score of a Musical. † - indicates the performance won the Tony Award ‡ - indicates the performance was also nominated for the Tony Award

Check all the winners of Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music presented under Drama Desk Award since 1968 .


Jason Robert Brown

Honored for : The Bridges of Madison County

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jason Robert Brown The Bridges of Madison County
Andrew Lippa Big Fish
Steven Lutvak A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Alan Menken Aladdin
Kevin Murphy Heathers: The Musical
Laurence O'Keefe Heathers: The Musical
Jeanine Tesori Fun Home

David Byrne, Fatboy Slim

Honored for : Here Lies Love

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dave Malloy Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Michael John LaChiusa Giant
Fatboy Slim Here Lies Love
David Byrne Here Lies Love
David Rossmer The Other Josh Cohen
Steve Rosen The Other Josh Cohen
Benj Pasek A Christmas Story: The Musical
Justin Paul A Christmas Story: The Musical
Trey Anastasio Hands on a Hardbody
Amanda Green Hands on a Hardbody

Alan Menken

Honored for : Newsies

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Maury Yeston Death Takes a Holiday
Alan Menken Newsies
Frank Wildhorn Bonnie & Clyde
Alan Menken Leap of Faith
Glen Hansard Once
Markéta Irglová Once
Michael John LaChiusa Queen of the Mist

Robert Lopez, Trey Parker, Matt Stone

Honored for : The Book of Mormon

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Brad Alexander See Rock City & Other Destinations
Robert Lopez The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker The Book of Mormon
Matt Stone The Book of Mormon
Marc Shaiman Catch Me If You Can
Alan Menken Sister Act the Musical
Artie Butler The People in the Picture
Mike Stoller The People in the Picture
David Yazbek Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

David Bryan

Honored for : Memphis

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
David Bryan Memphis
Joe Iconis Bloodsong of Love
Fred Ebb The Scottsboro Boys
John Kander The Scottsboro Boys
Michael Friedman Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Andrew Lippa The Addams Family
Joseph Zellnik Yank!

Elton John

Honored for : Billy Elliot the Musical

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elton John Billy Elliot the Musical
Neil Bartram The Story of My Life
Zina Goldrich Dear Edwina
Dolly Parton 9 to 5
Stephen Sondheim Road Show
Jeanine Tesori Shrek The Musical

Heidi Rodewald, Stew

Honored for : Passing Strange

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Heidi Rodewald Passing Strange
Stew Passing Strange
Stephen Flaherty The Glorious Ones
Tom Kitt Next to Normal
Mark Mulcahy The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Joshua Schmidt Adding Machine
John Bucchino A Catered Affair

Duncan Sheik

Honored for : Spring Awakening

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Paul Leschen Twist: Please, Sir, May I Have Some More?
Christopher Durang Adrift in Macao
Lin-Manuel Miranda In the Heights
Duncan Sheik Spring Awakening
John Kander Curtains
Laurence O'Keefe Legally Blonde: The Musical
Nell Benjamin Legally Blonde: The Musical

Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison

Honored for : The Drowsy Chaperone

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lisa Lambert The Drowsy Chaperone
Greg Morrison The Drowsy Chaperone
Matthew Sklar The Wedding Singer
Peter Mills The Pursuit of Persephone
Michael John LaChiusa See What I Wanna See
Scott Frankel Grey Gardens
Stephen Dolginoff Thrill Me

Adam Guettel

Honored for : The Light in the Piazza

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Adam Guettel The Light in the Piazza
Gary Adler Altar Boyz
Michael Patrick Walker Altar Boyz
Terry Davies Play Without Words
Stephen Flaherty Dessa Rose
David Yazbek Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
William Finn The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Jeanine Tesori

Honored for : Caroline, or Change

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jeanine Tesori Caroline, or Change
RaRa Avis Ramayana 2K3
Andrew Yeater Ramayana 2K3
Eric Rockwell The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)
Martin Silvestri Johnny Guitar
Joel Higgins Johnny Guitar
Boy George Taboo
Stephen Schwartz Wicked

Marc Shaiman

Honored for : Hairspray

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tim Acito Zanna, Don't!
Stephen Flaherty A Man of No Importance
Keb' Mo' Thunder Knocking on the Door
Keith Glover Thunder Knocking on the Door
Marc Shaiman Hairspray
Michel Legrand Amour
Robert Lopez Avenue Q
Jeff Marx Avenue Q

Jason Robert Brown

Honored for : The Last Five Years

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jason Robert Brown The Last Five Years
Jonathan Larson Tick, Tick... Boom!
Marvin Hamlisch Sweet Smell of Success
Jeanine Tesori Thoroughly Modern Millie

David Yazbek

Honored for : The Full Monty

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
David Yazbek The Full Monty
Kirsten Childs The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Laurence O'Keefe Bat Boy: The Musical
Edward Kleban A Class Act
Stephen Flaherty Seussical
Mark Hollmann Urinetown

Andrew Lippa

Honored for : The Wild Party

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Andrew Lippa The Wild Party
Stephen Sondheim Saturday Night
Shaun Davey James Joyce's The Dead

Jason Robert Brown

Honored for : Parade

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jason Robert Brown Parade
Cy Coleman Exactly Like You
William Finn A New Brain
Frank Wildhorn The Civil War

Stephen Flaherty

Honored for : Ragtime

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Flaherty Ragtime
Stephen Trask Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Paul Simon The Capeman
Frank Wildhorn The Scarlet Pimpernel

Cy Coleman

Honored for : The Life

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cy Coleman The Life
Jeanine Tesori Violet
John Kander Steel Pier

Jonathan Larson

Honored for : Rent

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jonathan Larson Rent
David Shire Big: the musical
Michael John LaChiusa Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Bob Telson Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Polly Pen Bed and Sofa
Stephen Hoffman Splendora
Adam Guettel Floyd Collins

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Passion

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Passion
Michael John LaChiusa Hello Again
Polly Pen Christina Alberta's Father
Tom Waits The Black Rider

John Kander

Honored for : Kiss of the Spider Woman

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Kander Kiss of the Spider Woman
Marvin Hamlisch The Goodbye Girl
Jeffrey Lunden Wings

Erik Frandsen, Michael Garin, Robert Hipkins, Paula Lockheart

Honored for : Song of Singapore

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Erik Frandsen Song of Singapore
Michael Garin Song of Singapore
Robert Hipkins Song of Singapore
Paula Lockheart Song of Singapore

Cy Coleman

Honored for : The Will Rogers Follies

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cy Coleman The Will Rogers Follies
William Finn Falsettoland
David Bucknam The Waves
Stephen Sondheim Assassins
Lucy Simon The Secret Garden

William Finn

Honored for : Falsettoland

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cy Coleman The Will Rogers Follies
William Finn Falsettoland
David Bucknam The Waves
Stephen Sondheim Assassins
Lucy Simon The Secret Garden

Cy Coleman

Honored for : City of Angels

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cy Coleman City of Angels
Andrew Lloyd Webber Aspects of Love
Ástor Piazzolla Dangerous Games
George Forrest Grand Hotel
Robert Wright Grand Hotel
Maury Yeston Grand Hotel
David Shire Closer Than Ever

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Honored for : The Phantom of the Opera

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera
David Evans Birds of Paradise
Benny Andersson Chess
Björn Ulvaeus Chess
Stephen Sondheim Into the Woods
Hugh Masekela Sarafina!
Mbongeni Ngema Sarafina!

Claude-Michel Schönberg

Honored for : Les Misérables

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Claude-Michel Schönberg Les Misérables
Noel Gay Me and My Girl
Nick Bicât The Knife
Charles Strouse Rags
Andrew Lloyd Webber Starlight Express

Noel Gay

Honored for : Me and My Girl

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Claude-Michel Schönberg Les Misérables
Noel Gay Me and My Girl
Nick Bicât The Knife
Charles Strouse Rags
Andrew Lloyd Webber Starlight Express

Rupert Holmes

Honored for : The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rupert Holmes The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Charles Strouse Mayor
Andrew Lloyd Webber Song and Dance
Polly Pen Goblin Market

Roger Miller

Honored for : Big River

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Rupert 3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down
Roger Miller Big River
Larry Grossman Grind

Jerry Herman

Honored for : La Cage aux Folles

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jerry Herman La Cage aux Folles
David Shire Baby
Stephen Sondheim Sunday in the Park with George
Galt MacDermot The Human Comedy

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Honored for : Cats

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Andrew Lloyd Webber Cats
Larry Grossman A Doll's Life
Alan Menken Little Shop of Horrors
Gerald Jay Markoe Charlotte Sweet
Des McAnuff Death of Von Richthofen Witnessed from Earth

Maury Yeston

Honored for : Nine

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Maury Yeston Nine
Stephen Sondheim Merrily We Roll Along
John Foley Pump Boys and Dinettes
Debra Monk Pump Boys and Dinettes
Mark Hardwick Pump Boys and Dinettes
Cass Morgan Pump Boys and Dinettes
Jim Wann Pump Boys and Dinettes
John Schimmel Pump Boys and Dinettes

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Honored for : Evita

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cy Coleman Barnum
Andrew Lloyd Webber Evita

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Nancy Ford I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road
Michel Legrand The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Stephen Sondheim Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Marvin Hamlisch They're Playing Our Song

Cy Coleman

Honored for : On the Twentieth Century

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cy Coleman On the Twentieth Century
Carol Hall The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Elizabeth Swados Runaways

Carol Hall

Honored for : The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cy Coleman On the Twentieth Century
Carol Hall The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Elizabeth Swados Runaways

Cy Coleman

Honored for : I Love My Wife

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cy Coleman I Love My Wife
Elizabeth Swados Nightclub Cantata
Robert Waldman The Robber Bridegroom
Charles Strouse Annie

Al Carmines

Honored for : The Faggot

Nominations 1974 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Al Carmines The Faggot

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : A Little Night Music

Nominations 1973 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim A Little Night Music

Galt MacDermot

Honored for : Two Gentlemen of Verona

Nominations 1972 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Galt MacDermot Two Gentlemen of Verona

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Follies

Nominations 1971 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Sondheim Follies

Kurt Weill

Honored for : Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

Nominations 1970 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kurt Weill Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Stephen Sondheim Company

Stephen Sondheim

Honored for : Company

Nominations 1970 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kurt Weill Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Stephen Sondheim Company

Al Carmines

Honored for : Peace

Nominations 1969 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Al Carmines Peace
Burt Bacharach Promises, Promises

Burt Bacharach

Honored for : Promises, Promises

Nominations 1969 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Al Carmines Peace
Burt Bacharach Promises, Promises

Galt MacDermot

Honored for : Hair
(Best Composer)

Nominations 1968 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Galt MacDermot Hair
Best Composer
Al Carmines In Circles
Best Composer

Al Carmines

Honored for : In Circles
(Best Composer)

Nominations 1968 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Galt MacDermot Hair
Best Composer
Al Carmines In Circles
Best Composer