Nineteen local music organizations receive almost $1.2 million in funding
PHILADELPHIA, April 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Philadelphia Music Project (PMP), a program of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, has awarded $1,179,675 to 19 local music organizations in support of 118 concerts and residency programs spanning traditional and contemporary forms of classical, jazz, and world music. This year’s grants will make possible world premiere performances of 15 new compositions and Philadelphia premieres of 61 additional works. In all, nearly 1,000 instrumentalists, conductors, vocalists, and composers will participate in these funded projects; 12 ensembles and soloists will make their Philadelphia debuts.
“This year’s PMP awards support a diverse range of programs, from modern opera to early choral music, Indian classical music to Afro-Cuban jazz,” said
Matthew Levy, director of the Philadelphia Music Project. “Several projects celebrate the work of past master composers, including Philadelphia’s own
Samuel Barber, whose birthday centennial will be commemorated in 2010. Grantees will also commission work from a number of preeminent contemporary composers, including jazz icon
Wayne Shorter and Pulitzer Prize-winners
Aaron Jay Kernis,
David Lang,
Paul Moravec,
George Crumb, and
Richard Wernick, contributing mightily to both the field and the cultural vitality of our city.”
“The range and depth of these programs are evidence that Philadelphia’s music scene is thriving,” said
Gregory T. Rowe, director of Culture Initiatives and deputy director of the Philadelphia Program at The Pew Charitable Trusts. “We are pleased that PMP’s grants will make it possible for the public to experience firsthand a wealth of musical traditions and world-class performances.”
2009-2010 Grant Recipients:
Unless otherwise noted, grants are for one year.
Ars Nova Workshop – $45,000
To present “Free/Form: Composer Portraits,” a six-concert series featuring the music of trumpeter
Don Cherry and saxophonist
Tim Berne with performances by
Karl Berger’s “In the Spirit of
Don Cherry,”
Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra,
Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Collide Quartet, pianist
Matt Mitchell, and Mr. Berne’s Adobe Probe and Big Satan ensembles.
Astral Artists – $95,000 (2 years)
For a two-year residency with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer
Aaron Jay Kernis featuring Philadelphia premieres of several of Mr. Kernis’ works and the world premiere of a newly commissioned quartet. Featuring resident Astral artists with clarinetist
Igor Begelman, violist
Teng Li, and Symphony in C conducted by
Rossen Milanov.
Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia – $45,000
To present two concerts titled “Ancient Liturgies” and “Voice of Scotland,” exploring mystical traditions within liturgical practice as represented in choral works by
Eric Whitacre,
Jonathan Harvey,
Arvo Part,
Robert Carver,
James MacMillan, and Philadelphia composer
Joseph Castaldo.
The Crossing – $25,000 *
To present “Month of Moderns,” a festival of contemporary choral music featuring three newly commissioned works by Lansing McLoskey,
Paul Fowler, and 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner
David Lang, all based on the words of poet
Philip Levine. Guest artists: Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.
Curtis Institute of Music – $100,000
To mount a fully-staged production of
Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra, performed by the Curtis Opera Theatre under the baton of Maestro George Manahan, presented in collaboration with the Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Kimmel Center.
International House Philadelphia – $45,000
For “Anti-Jazz: The New Thing Revisited,” a four-concert series presented in collaboration with Ars Nova Workshop and featuring performances by
Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra;
Bill Dixon and the Exploding Star Orchestra;
Bobby Bradford,
Frode Gjerstad, and Circulasione Totale Orchestra; and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts – $100,000
For “Fresh Ink,” a new music series featuring Philadelphia debuts by the Absolute Ensemble, Brooklyn Rider, and 2 Foot Yard, as well as performances by pianist
Simone Dinnerstein, cellist
Matt Haimovitz, and the Kronos and JACK Quartets (JACK will be co-presented by Bowerbird). Programs offer a U.S. premiere by Matthias Pintscher and 20 regional premieres of works by
Mike Block,
Charles Coleman,
Philip Glass,
Matt Haimovitz,
Matt Herskowitz,
Colin Jacobsen,
Carla Kihlstedt,
Jeff Myers,
Gene Pritsker,
Serge Provost,
Christopher Rouse,
Ana Sokolovic,
Steven Stucky,
Gilles Tremblay, and
Luna Pearl Woolf.
Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia – $45,000
To perform the Philadelphia premiere of
Roberto Sierra’s Missa Latina under the baton of Artistic Director
Alan Harler. Guest artists: Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, soprano
Heidi Grant Murphy, and baritone
Nathaniel Webster.
Montgomery County Community College – $52,000
In support of “
Sabor Latino: A Caribbean Journey,” a four-concert series featuring
David Sanchez, Paquito D’Rivera, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and
Marlon Simon.
Opera Company of Philadelphia – $100,000
To present the East Coast premiere of
Tan Dun’s Tea: A Mirror of Soul with soprano
Kelly Kaduce, tenor
Roger Honeywell, mezzo-soprano
Nancy Maultsby, baritone
Haijing Fu, and bass
Kirk Eichelberger, conducted alternately by
Tan Dun and
David Hayes.
Orchestra 2001–$45,000
To commission and premiere new works by Pulitzer Prize-winners
Paul Moravec and
George Crumb, and Guggenheim Fellow Robert Maggio. Guest artists: violinist
Maria Bachmann and soprano
Ann Crumb.
Philadelphia Chamber Music Society – $75,000
To present four world premieres by composers
Charles Abramovic,
Kyle Bartlett,
Jan Krzywicki, and
Richard Wernick; and eight Philadelphia premieres by
Mario Davidovsky,
Tigran Mansurian,
Charles Wuorinen,
Donald Martino,
Stephen Hartke,
John Adams,
James MacMillan, and
David Dzubay. Guest artists: oboist
Richard Woodhams; the Julliard, Brentano, Takacs, Orion, and St. Lawrence String Quartets; guitarist
Jason Vieaux; violist
Kim Kashkashian; pianist Peter Serkin; Trio Cavatina; the Dolce Suono ensemble; and Counter)Induction.
Philadelphia Museum of Art – $45,000
To commission saxophonist/composer
Wayne Shorter for a work inspired by the Museum’s East Asian art collection and performed by the Wayne Shorter Quartet (Shorter plus pianist
Danilo Perez, bassist
John Patitucci, and drummer
Brian Blade) on the Museum’s “Art After 5″ series.
Philadelphia Orchestra – $100,000
To perform Philadelphia premieres of
Richard Danielpour’s A Woman’s Life (with Maestro Rossen Milanov and soprano
Angela Brown) and Bright Sheng’s The Phoenix (with Maestro Charles Dutoit and soprano
Shana Blake Hill).
The Philadelphia Singers – $45,000
To collaborate with Relache and Orchestra 2001 in a program featuring the world premiere of Persephone by
Philip Glass, the Philadelphia premiere of You Are (Variations) by
Steve Reich, and excerpts from
Gavin Bryars’ Cycle Lauda Cortonese.
Piffaro, The Renaissance Band – $45,000
To produce two programs exploring mid-17th century Iberian music. The first, to be performed with the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, recreates a Marian Vespers with music by Rebelo, Melgas, and Correa. The second features Spanish theater music by
Juan Hidalgo based on musical cues from the plays of Lope de Vega and performed with soprano
Ellen Hargis.
SRUTI, The India Music and Dance Society – $21,500
To present a Carnatic saxophone concert by Kadri Gopalnath; a Carnatic chitraveena concert by N. Ravikiran; and a jugalbandi (fusion) concert blending Carnatic and Hindustani styles with flutist
Shashank Subramanyam and sitarist Ustad Shahid Parvez, presented in collaboration with the Painted Bride Art Center.
Tempesta di Mare – $45,000
To perform
Jan Dismas Zelenka’s Lamentationes pro hebdomana sancta for ATB soli and chamber ensemble with alto Lorie Gratis, tenor
Aaron Sheehan, and baritone Sumner Thompson.
Warriors of the Wonderful Sound – $50,000 (2 years) *
To commission saxophonists Rudresh Mahanthappa and
Steve Coleman to compose and perform new works with
Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound, the Philadelphia-based 15-member big band. Presented in partnership with Montgomery County Community College.
* First-time grantee
Full project summaries for each grant are available at www.philadelphiamusicproject.org.
Philadelphia Music Project grants are awarded on a competitive basis and are selected by a panel of internationally recognized artists, scholars, and administrators with a broad knowledge of the field. A distinguished eight-member panel reviewed this year’s applications:
- Vinson Cole, tenor, professor of voice, New England Conservatory; artist in residence, University of Missouri at Kansas City
-
Robert Garfias, ethnomusicologist, professor of anthropology, University of California, Irvine
-
Paul Hostetter, conductor, director of orchestra studies, Montclair State University; artistic director, Winter Sun Music Festival
-
Jennifer Koh, violinist
-
Michael Orlove, program director, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
-
Robert Page, director of choral studies, Carnegie Mellon University; director of special projects and choral activities, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
-
Shulamit Ran, composer, professor of music, University of Chicago
-
Tim Ries, saxophonist/composer, professor of jazz studies, University of Toronto
Panelists also utilized reports from two artistic advisers to evaluate applications:
-
Lyle Nordstrom, lutenist, professor of music history/director of early music, Univ. of North Texas
-
Bell Yung, Chinese music specialist, professor of music, University of Pittsburgh
Complete biographies for all panelists and artistic advisers are available at www.philadelphiamusicproject.org. The Philadelphia Music Project, one of seven artistic initiatives of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, has funded a total of 279 project grants since its inception in 1989. These awards represent a total of $12,247,794 invested in the region’s nonprofit music community. www.philadelphiamusicproject.org
The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life. It partners with a diverse range of donors, public and private organizations and concerned citizens who share a commitment to fact-based solutions and goal-driven investments to improve society. www.pewtrusts.org
The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage is dedicated to stimulating a vibrant cultural community in the five-county, Southeastern Pennsylvania region. Established in 2005, the Center houses seven funding initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Through these initiatives the Center supports area artists and arts and heritage organizations whose work is distinguished by excellence, imagination, and courage. Each year, the Center’s grants make possible more than 800 performances in dance, music, and theatre as well as history and visual arts exhibitions, and other public programs for audiences in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties. In addition to its grantmaking, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage functions as a nexus for the exchange of ideas around artistic expression and cultural interpretation. The Center also produces lectures, symposia, workshops, and publications that engage critical issues in the fields we serve.
The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by The University of the Arts, Philadelphia.
For more information, visit www.pcah.us
SOURCE The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
