It may not be on par with, say, Beatlemania, but we've been
intrigued by the steady stream of impressive gifts to chamber music
organizations across the last twelve months.
***
Now comes word that the University of Michigan is creating a new
competition, the M-Prize, along with $100,000 for the winner, all in an
effort to focus attention on what the New York Times calls the "rapidly evolving field" of chamber music.
So why, exactly, is the field rapidly evolving? Two answers come to mind.
The first is the fact that chamber orchestras can provide musicians with a viable and sustainable career path. Aaron P. Dworkin,
the dean of the university's School of Music, Theater, and Dance, came
up with the idea for the prize, and noted that "the vast possibilities
inherent in chamber music empower it with the unique ability to serve as
a catalyst for interdisciplinary exploration and, ultimately,
transformational artistic experiences."
That sounds slightly vague, so to see what Dwokin means, we'll turn to the second reason for chamber music's ascendancy—its ability to reach new audiences.
If a symphony orchestra is the stuffy grandfather of the classical
music world, chamber orchestras represent the cool uncle. (Please note,
we're just being hyperbolic solely for effect here.)
***
This brings us back to Mr. Dworkin.
If his name rings a bell, it's no coincidence. He used to run the
Detroit-based Sphinx Organization, whose primary mission is to increase
diversity in the classical music world. (Check out our take on Sphinx's partnership with IMG Artists to pair minority classical musicians with some of the planet's most famous musicians.)
The open-minded, collaborative ethos running through groups like the
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Sphinx Organization lies at the heart
of the M-Prize, which will be open to ensembles with three to eight
members. The prize will include a junior division for musicians under 18
and includes a category that recognizes "open" ensembles, which can
feature percussion, singers, turntables, laptops (!) and styles
including jazz, bluegrass, and other genres that incorporate
improvisation.
The grand prize winner will be selected from three senior-division
finalists, who will perform at a gala concert at the university on May
20th that will be broadcast on Detroit Public Television and made
available to other public television stations around the country.
All in all, the news out of Ann Arbor suggests that despite other stories to the contrary, certain classical music genres seem to be thriving in the state.
