AMERICAN MUSIC CENTER RECOGNIZES

CHANTICLEER’S CONTRIBUTION TO CHORAL REPERTOIRE

Letter of Distinction Awarded to Five Leaders in Contemporary American Music

San Francisco, April 10, 2006—Internationally-acclaimed choral ensemble Chanticleer is one of five American leaders in contemporary music to be honored this year by the American Music Center.  AMC’s Founders Award will be presented to composer Milton Babbitt; AMC’s Letter of Distinction will be presented to Chanticleer, guitarist Bill Frisell, New Yorker music critic Alex Ross, and jazz musician and educator Billy Taylor.

“We are thrilled to honor such a wonderfully diverse and talented group of musical heroes this year,” said Joanne Hubbard Cossa, executive director of the American Music Center.  “Running the gamut from mastering dodecaphonic technique to creating beautiful choral music to exploring new frontiers in jazz to in-depth, provocative journalism, our awardees’ achievements have left an indelible mark on the American cultural landscape.”

The awards will be presented in New York at the Cutting Room (19 West 24th Street) on Monday, May 1, 2006 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The ceremony will take place as part of the American Music Center’s annual meeting, open to AMC members, the press, and invited guests. A concert to benefit the American Music Center will follow the meeting at 7:30 pm, featuring performances by Meridian Arts Ensemble, Matthew Shipp, and Pamela Z.

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