the KlezmerShack

From Dan Kleinman, Acting Dean, Columbia University School of the Arts:
"The School of the Arts is pleased to present the William Schuman Award to John Zorn, whose astonishingly diverse and extraordinary body of work has enlightened, startled, and enchanted its listeners. His lasting contribution to the repertoire of today has changed the landscape of composition."

Columbia University's School of the Arts honors composer JOHN ZORN with the WILLIAM SCHUMAN AWARD, a major recognition given periodically over the past twenty-five years.

Named for its first recipient William Schuman, the award, in the form of a direct, unrestricted grant of $50,000, is one of the largest to an American composer. In the language of the gift establishing the prize, the purpose of the William Schuman Award is "to recognize the lifetime achievement of an American composer whose works have been widely performed and generally acknowledged to be of lasting significance." It is awarded by the Dean of the School of the Arts at Columbia University. The award was established in 1981 by a bequest from the Schuman family. Previous winners have included Schuman, David Diamond, Gunther Schuller, Milton Babbitt, and Hugo Weisgall, and, most recently in 2001, Steve Reich.

Drawing on his experience in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, hardcore punk, classical, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular, and improvised music, Zorn has created an influential body of work that defies academic categories. A native of New York City, he has been a central figure in the downtown scene since 1975, incorporating a wide range of musicians in various compositional formats. He learned alchemical synthesis from Harry Smith, structural ontology with Richard Foreman, how to make art out of garbage with Jack Smith, cathartic expression at Sluggs, and hermetic intuition from Joseph Cornell. Early inspirations include American innovators Ives, Varèse, Cage, Carter, and Partch; the European tradition of Berg, Stravinsky, Boulez, and Kagel; soundtrack composers Herrmann, Morricone, and Stalling; and avant-garde theatre, film, and art.

Described as "endlessly inventive" by George Steel, the Executive Director of Columbia's Miller Theatre, Zorn was celebrated with one of Miller's signature Composer Portraits this past October. Also this year, the composer won a "genius" grant from the MacArthur Foundation. Miller will host a concert and awards ceremony for the Schuman recognition on Thursday, April 26 (concert details to be announced).

About Columbia University School of the Arts:
Founded in 1965, the Columbia University School of the Arts is among the premier arts institutions in the United States offering Master in Fine Arts degrees through four divisions: film, theatre arts, visual arts, and writing. The faculty includes both academics and practitioners, providing an integrated program for emerging contemporary artists. Among the leading faculty members are: Anne Bogart, Richard Howard, Ben Marcus, Orhan Pamuk, James Schamus, Andrei Serban, and Kara Walker.

About Columbia University:
Founded in 1754 as King's College, Columbia University in the City of New York is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and today is one of the world's leading academic and research institutions. For more information about Columbia University, visit www.columbia.edu.