November 6, 2003

New prize created for composers

School of Music’s biennial Nemmers Prize will be one of world’s largest

By Wendy Leopold

Toni-Marie Montgomery

The School of Music has 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 the 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 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..

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.

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, Ill. 60208.