For distinguished musical composition by an American in any of the larger forms including chamber, orchestral, choral, opera, song, dance, or other forms of musical theatre, which has had its first performance in the United States during the year, One thousand dollars ($1,000).
Symphony, RiverRun , by Stephen Albert
Premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra on January 17, 1985.
Finalists
Nominated as finalists in Music in 1985:
William Bolcom
Premiered at the University of Michigan on April 11, 1984.
The Jury
The Jury
Richard Wernick(Chair)*
Professor of Music, University of Pennsylvania
Alan M. Kriegsman*
Dance Critic, The Washington Post
Joseph Schwantner*
Composer-in-Residence, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Winners in Music
Bernard Rands
Premiered by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra on June 8, 1983.
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
Commissioned by the American Composers Orchestra and premiered by that orchestra on May 5, 1982 in Alice Tully Hall, New York City.
Roger Sessions
First performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra on October 23, 1981, Seiji Ozawa, conductor.
1985 Prize Winners
Murray Kempton
For witty and insightful reflection on public issues in 1984 and throughout a distinguished career.
Howard Rosenberg
For his television criticism.