Nilo Alcala’s works have been performed in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He is the first Philippine-born composer to receive the COPLAND HOUSE Residency Award, and be commissioned and premiered by Grammy-winner LA Master Chorale at the Disney Concert Hall. 
 Alcala’s awards include The American Prize, POLYPHONOS Young Composer Award (The Esoterics, Seattle, WA), IGNITE Commissioning Competition (C4, New York), the Asian Composers League Young Composer Award (Israel), and Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honor) from the Philippine President. His commissions include the National Music Competition for Young Artists; Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival; Korea Ministry of Culture; Asia-Europe Foundation; Metro Manila Concert Orchestra, and Manila Symphony Orchestra. 
 Alcala was resident composer of the Philippine Madrigal Singers (UNESCO Artist for Peace) which premiered his works at Florilege Vocal de Tours (France), European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (Italy); ACDA National Conference (Dallas, TX); the 9th World Symposium on Choral Music (Argentina); and America Cantat 7 (Colombia). 
 An Asian Cultural Council grantee, Alcala is also a Billy Joel Fellow at Syracuse University where he earned an MMus in Composition and received the Irene L. Crooker Music Award. He holds a BM in Composition at the University of the Philippines, graduating Magna cum laude and recipient of Gawad Tsanselor Natatanging Mag-aaral (Chancellor's Outstanding Student Award).