February 08, 2013

The Vilcek Foundation recently awarded Yo Yo Ma the 2013 Vilcek Prize for Contemporary Music. The annual prize, which comes with a $100,000 cash award, recognizes immigrants who have made significant contributions to the American arts. Ma, born in France to Chinese parents, is widely known as a master cellist in the field of classical music. The Vilcek prize is the first to recognize his important work in contemporary music.“Yo-Yo Ma’s faith in the connection between the arts and enlightened citizenship echoes that of the Vilcek Foundation. We are delighted to bestow the prize to someone who understands how art brings people together, no matter where in the world they are from,“ said Marica Vilcek, Vice President of the Foundation.

In addition to recognizing Ma, the Vilcek Foundation recognized a younger generation of foreign-born artists at earlier stages of their careers. Recipients of the three Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Contemporary Music are James Abrahar, a British born-songwriter, Samuel Bazawule of Ghana, and Armenian-born pianist, composer and vocalist Tigran. Bob Santelli, executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum, will present the prizes in New York CIty at an awards ceremony in April 2013.