EarRelevant Staff | 3 DEC 2024
NEW YORK CITY, New York– Chamber Music America (CMA), the leading national organization supporting chamber ensemble music, has announced the recipients of its 2025 CMA Awards. The honorees span a broad spectrum of musical styles and disciplines, celebrating achievements in artistic innovation, community engagement, and advocacy. The 2025 awards, which spotlight the genre’s vitality, honoring luminaries and trailblazers shaping its future, will be presented at the annual CMA Awards Luncheon on February 15, 2025, during the National Conference in Houston, Texas.
This year’s highest honor, the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award, will be presented to Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe, co-founders of Bang on a Can. Renowned for their boundary-pushing approach to chamber music, the trio has commissioned hundreds of works and launched influential initiatives like the LONG PLAY and LOUD Weekend festivals. Their groundbreaking collective, founded in 1987, has profoundly impacted the global music landscape, redefining chamber music through collaboration and innovation.
David Harrington, founding member of the Grammy-winning Kronos Quartet, will receive the Michael Jaffee Visionary Award for his transformative contributions to chamber music over a career spanning five decades. Harrington’s work with Kronos has expanded the genre’s reach, integrating contemporary works and cross-cultural collaborations. His dedication to securing Kronos’ future as a pioneering ensemble underscores his enduring influence on the field.
The inaugural CMA Executive Award will honor saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, a founding member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Known for his innovative explorations of jazz, classical, and experimental music, Mitchell continues mentoring emerging artists and pushing the boundaries of creative expression. His upcoming work, Metropolis Trilogy, will premiere during the CMA conference, showcasing his interdisciplinary approach.
The Community Impact Award/Presenter of the Year was awarded to Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta and its Artistic Director William Ransom. As one of the Southeast’s largest chamber music organizations, ECMSA enriches Atlanta’s cultural life with over 60 free concerts and educational programs annually. Under Ransom’s leadership, ECMSA has fostered accessibility and cultivated new generations of music enthusiasts, exemplifying the power of chamber music to inspire and engage diverse audiences.
Houston’s Apollo Chamber Players earned the Ensemble of the Year Award for their dedication to advancing contemporary music and championing underrepresented voices. Since their founding in 2008, Apollo has commissioned over 50 new works, addressing social issues such as censorship, democracy, and immigration through innovative programming. Their collaborations with composers like Jennifer Higdon and Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate have solidified their reputation as advocates for music that reflects modern challenges while enriching the chamber music landscape.
Also hailing from Houston, Musiqa received the Interdisciplinary Collaboration of the Year Award for its groundbreaking project Meeting of Minds. This innovative work, merging music, dance, and neuroscience, explores the complexities of human connection. Featuring music by Anthony Brandt, choreography by Andy and Dionne Noble, and advanced brain-computer interface technology, Meeting of Minds illustrates the transformative potential of interdisciplinary art. Led by a collective of composers, Musiqa continues to push the boundaries of collaboration and performance, connecting with audiences on a profound level.
Additional honorees include ensembles and individuals recognized for their exceptional contributions to the field:
- Commission of the Year: Something Golden by Andrew Yee, performed by the Thalea Quartet, for its emotional resonance and depth.
- Album of the Year: Jasper String Quartet’s Insects and Machines: Quartets of Vivian Fung. The group is celebrated for its compelling interpretations of contemporary compositions.
- Arts Advocate of the Year: Thomas Rosenberg, for his decades of leadership with the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association and dedication to chamber music education.
Chamber Music America, founded in 1977, supports chamber ensemble music across classical, jazz, and contemporary styles through grants, advocacy, and educational initiatives. Its awards celebrate chamber music’s profound cultural and artistic impact while fostering its continued growth and accessibility.
For more information about Chamber Music America, visit chambermusicamerica.org. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Chamber Music America: chambermusicamerica.org
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