The Philadelphia Music Project (PMP) awards $981,064 to 19 local music organizations in support of 141 concerts and residency programs encompassing traditional and contemporary forms of classical, jazz, and world/folk music. This year's grants will help bring the premieres of 25 new works to Philadelphia audiences, 18 of which will be commissioned with direct support from PMP.
“In 2008/2009, PMP will support public programs featuring 665 artists and 39 ensembles,” said Matt Levy, director of the Philadelphia Music Project. “But what's remarkable beyond these numbers is the diversity and ingenuity of this year's funded projects. There are entire series celebrating the individual artist's role in advancing music during the last century, highlighting the achievements of innovators such as Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki and jazz trumpet icon Clifford Brown. Other funded concerts will honor the human voice with music new and old, from traditions Western and Eastern. And several of this year's commissioned composers will create works inspired by extra-musical sources, including visual artworks, Philadelphia landmarks, and American history.”
2008 – 2009 Grant Recipients:
- Academy of Vocal Arts—$65,000
To produce the Philadelphia premiere of Ottorino Respighi's 1934 opera La fiamma
- American Composers Forum, Philadelphia Chapter—$21,000
In support of a master class and concert of new European music by French bassoon virtuoso Pascal Gallois at Temple University
- Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts—$85,000
To present the American Composers Orchestra in a concert series of contemporary American music
- Ars Nova Workshop—$40,000
To present “Free/Form: Composer Portraits,” a six-concert series featuring the work of Andrew Hill, Julius Hemphill, and Anthony Braxton
- Chamber Music Now—$20,000
To commission and present a program of four new works inspired by the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site by composers Philip Maneval, David Laganella, Richard Brodhead, and Richard Belcastro
- International House Philadelphia—$40,000
To present “Tête-a-tête,” a five-concert series featuring duo performances by Tony Conrad and John Cale, Pharoah Sanders and Hamid Drake, Mats Gustaffson and Thurston Moore, The Paul Bley Duo, and Keiran Hebden and Steve Reid
- The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts—$70,000
In support of the sixth season of Fresh Ink, a New Music series featuring concerts by Imani Winds, Bang on a Can All-Stars, and Alarm Will Sound
- Network For New Music—$40,000
To commission new works for the Network Ensemble by composers Richard Brodhead, David Laganella, Kyle Bartlett, Gene Coleman, Andrea Clearfield, and Todd Reynolds in collaboration with visual artists
- Orchestra 2001—$40,000
To present “An Opera, an Operetta, and a Songbook,” three perspectives of orchestral vocal composition by composers Thomas Whitman, Ronald G. Vigue, and George Crumb
- Painted Bride Arts Center—$50,000
To commission composer, bandleader, and jazz drummer John Hollenbeck to create and perform new music for his Large Ensemble and work with local musicians during a two-week residency
- Philadelphia Chamber Music Society—$65,000
To present “First Soundings,” a series featuring eight Philadelphia premieres, as well as three world premieres by composers Robert Capanna, Melinda Wagner, and Richard Wernick. Performing artists: Emerson, Orion, Muir, Brentano, Juilliard, and Daedalus string quartets, violinist James Ehnes, a Wind Ensemble from the New York Philharmonic, harpist Elizabeth Hainen, pianist Lydia Artymiw, and flutist Carol Wincenc
- Philadelphia Classical Symphony—$80,000
A two-year grant to commission composers Curt Cacioppo and Maurice Wright to write works for “Reawakenings of American Indian Music—New Music based on the Culture of the Lenape Indians”
- Philadelphia Museum of Art—$40,000
To commission an original piece by jazz pianist Jason Moran inspired by the Museum's fall 2008 exhibition, “Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt”
- The Philadelphia Orchestra Association—$85,000
To support a Krzysztof Penderecki Week in October 2008, honoring the composer's 75th birthday
- Piffaro, The Renaissance Band—$40,000
To present a midnight mass service featuring Claudin de Sermisy's Missa voulant Honneur interspersed with French noel tunes and settings, as well as a nativity play based on the noel texts
- Slought Foundation—$20,000
To present Soundfield@Slought with concerts by Werner Moebius, Michael Maierhof, Theo Bleckmann, Ensemble On-Line Vienna, and Taiwan's Chai Found Music Workshop
- SRUTI, The India Music & Dance Society—$18,000
To present “Showcasing the Modern Masters of Carnatic Music,” featuring concerts by vocalist Sanjay Subramaniam, violinists Dr. Mysore Manjunath and Mysore Nagaraj, and vocal duo Ranjani and Gayatri
- Tempesta di Mare—$40,000
To present “From Wealth of Tears to Cheerful Hearts” featuring J.S. Bach's rarely performed “Trauer-Ode,” along with the modern world premiere of John Blow's “With Cheerful Hearts” performed with guest artists The Philadelphia Singers
- The University of the Arts—$63,785
To present “Clifford Brown: Impact and Influence,” a three-day public concert series commemorating the music and life of the jazz trumpeter and composer with performances by Benny Golson, Lou Donaldson, Terence Blanchard, Marcus Belgrave and the Lars Halle Jazz Orchestra, as well as a newly-commissioned work by John Fedchock
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:
- Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano
- Bill Bragin, Director of Public Programming, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
- Zhou Long, Composer, Visiting Professor, University of Missouri at Kansas City
- Greg Osby, Composer and Jazz Saxophonist, Blue Note recording artist
- Ethel Raim, Artistic Director, Center for Traditional Music and Dance
- Robert Shafer, Artistic Director, City Choir of Washington
- Stanley Ritchie, Violinist, Early Music Specialist, Professor, Indiana University, Bloomington
- Rand Steiger, Composer/Conductor, Professor, University of California, San Diego
The Philadelphia Music Project—one of seven artistic initiatives of the Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by The University of the Arts—has underwritten 260 projects with support exceeding $10.8 million since its inception in 1989.
The Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage (PCAH) houses seven existing initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trusts that are dedicated to assisting cultural organizations in the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region develop high-quality public programs and effective management practices: Dance Advance, Heritage Philadelphia Program, Pew Fellowships in the Arts, Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative, Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative, Philadelphia Music Project, and Philadelphia Theatre Initiative. www.pcah.us
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. We partner with a diverse range of donors, public and private organizations and concerned citizens who share our commitment to fact-based solutions and goal-driven investments to improve society. www.pewtrusts.org
The University of the Arts is the nation's first and only university dedicated to the visual, performing and communication arts. Its 2,300 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs on its campus in the heart of Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts. Its history as a leader in educating creative individuals spans more than 130 years. www.uarts.edu