University of Michigan Announces M-Prize International Chamber Competition, with $100,000 Grand Prize

Written by Laurie Niles
Published: October 14, 2015 at 7:48 PM [UTC]

A new international chamber competition with a grand prize of $100,000 was announced Wednesday by the University of Michigan.

The annual competition, called the M-Prize, will take place every May at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance in Ann Arbor. The first competition will be held in May 2016.

Applications are due March 1, and those who wish to apply can go to this webpage to begin the application process. The competition will include two divisions: Junior Division (ages 18 and under) and Senior Division (average age 19-35).

The competition is open to ensembles with three to eight members. Those ensembles can be from three different categories: Strings, Winds and Open. The "Open" category is for alternative ensembles that can include mixed instrumentation, technology, voice and improvisation. Winners in each of the three divisions will compete in a concert for the grand prize of $100,000.

Members of the jury will include Rachel Barton Pine, Rohan de Silva, Anthony Elliott, George Taylor, Timothy McAllister, Sam Pilafian, David Shifrin, Toyin Spellman-Diaz, Gail Williams, Andrew Bishop, John Hollenbeck, Mark Summer and two others TBA.

Aaron Dworkin, founder of the Sphinx Organization and dean of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance since last summer, is the driving force behind the foundation of M-Prize, which is sponsored by the University of Michigan's Office of the Provost. Here are some words from him about the new competition:

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