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American Music Center Honors Luminaries in Contemporary American Music
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March 18, 2010
The American Music Center is extremely pleased to announce the following recipients of its 2010 Awards.
AMC's Founders Award:
Francis Thorne
AMC's Letter of Distinction:
Jack Beeson
Fred Ho
Meredith Monk
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Society for New Music
AMC's Trailblazer Award:
International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
"Each year, we are proud to honor those who have given so much of their talent and passion to this industry," AMC President and CEO Joanne Hubbard Cossa comments. "This illustrious group of composers and performers truly exemplifies the diversity and extraordinary abilities of those championing new American music today, and each winner has made an extraordinary contribution to the world of contemporary music in this country."
She continues, "We are extremely proud to honor Francis Thorne with our Founders Award. Not only have his compositions had a lasting impact on new American music, but his co-founding of the American Composers Orchestra some thirty-five years ago advanced the field enormously.
"Those receiving Letters of Distinction — Jack Beeson, Fred Ho, Meredith Monk, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Society for New Music — have left their mark on the new American musical landscape in five very different ways. Collectively they have served the community as composers, performers, mentors, teachers and music advocates. Their contributions to the field are diverse and unparalleled."
"Lastly," she concludes, "the commitment, style and fresh new look International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) brings to new American music makes them the perfect recipient for our Trailblazer Award."
AMC Awards: History and Descriptions
Since 1964, the American Music Center has annually awarded the Letter of Distinction to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to the field of contemporary American music. This year's Letter of Distinction recipients join a celebrated group of individuals and organizations who have received this honor, including George Balanchine, Leonard Bernstein, John Cage, Joan Tower, Merce Cunningham, Morton Feldman, Laurie Anderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Reich, Michael Tilson Thomas, Virgil Thomson, Joan La Barbara, Randy Weston, the Kronos Quartet, Bang on a Can, Dawn Upshaw, and the American Composers Orchestra.
The Founders Award, established in 1999, is named in honor of the six founders of the American Music Center: Aaron Copland, Howard Hansen, Marion Bauer, Otto Luening, Quincy Porter and Harrison Kerr. It celebrates lifetime achievement in the field of new American music. Previous winners include: Elliott Carter, Lou Harrison, Milton Babbitt, and Steve Reich. Last year's honoree was Gunther Schuller.
The Trailblazer Award, instituted in 2003, honors those deserving of commendation and support from the American contemporary music community for their early and mid-career efforts toward championing new music. Previous winners have included Matt Haimovitz, eighth blackbird, and Derek Bermel.
Awards will be presented on Monday, May 3, 2010, at the Chelsea Art Museum in New York City from 5-7pm to an audience of American Music Center members and guests.
