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MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Leopold at 847-491-4890
or w-leopold@northwestern.edu
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Northwestern University School of Music
today (Oct. 27) announced the establishment of The Michael Ludwig
Nemmers Prize in Musical Composition, a biennial award honoring
classical music composers of outstanding achievement. The newly
created prize is among the world's largest awards offered to
composers.
The Nemmers Prize, conferred through nomination, will include
a cash award of $100,000, a performance by the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra, and a residency of four non-consecutive weeks at Northwestern
University School of Music where the recipient will interact
with faculty and students. The inaugural award cycle of the prize
is scheduled for 2005.
"We are pleased to offer one of the largest prizes available
for composers," said Toni-Marie Montgomery, dean of the
Northwestern University School of Music. "These artists
indelibly shape our musical landscape and it is only fitting
that they are honored accordingly. We look forward to working
with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and strengthening the bonds
between our institutions."
"I am thrilled that Northwestern has initiated this prize
in composition," said Daniel Barenboim, Chicago Symphony
Orchestra Music Director. "It will certainly afford the
opportunity to highlight the important composers of our day.
We are delighted to be partners in this venture."
A three-member selection committee, comprising individuals of
widely recognized stature in the music community, will review
prize nominations. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will designate
one selection committee member. Northwestern University School
of Music will appoint the remaining two. The prize will be awarded
without regard to citizenship or institutional affiliation.
The Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Musical Composition is made
possible through a generous gift from the late Erwin E. Nemmers
and Frederic E. Nemmers, who in 1994 enabled the creation of
the Erwin Plein Nemmers Prize in Economics and the Frederic Esser
Prize in Mathematics, both leading awards in their fields.
Northwestern University President Henry S. Bienen said, "We
are pleased to expand the University's Nemmers Prize initiative
to the arts with the establishment of this new prize. We are
confident that it will continue a distinguished prize tradition."
Nominations for the 2005 prize cycle will be accepted from now
until March 1, 2004, with the announcement of the winner scheduled
for April 2004. Nominations preferably should come from recognized
experts in the music profession and describe the nominee's accomplishments
and qualifications in no more than two pages. Inclusion of the
nominee's resume along with the nominating letter is encouraged
but is not required.
Self-nominations will not be accepted. Former or present members
of the Northwestern University faculty or employees of the Chicago
Symphony are not eligible for the prize. (Read complete criteria
for nomination.)
Nominations should be sent to: Secretary to the Selection Committee,
Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Musical Composition, Office of
the Dean, School of Music, Northwestern University, 711 Elgin
Road, Evanston, IL 60208.
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