AMC Honors Shorter, Zorn

Wayne Shorter and John Zorn (pictured) were among the handful of musicians honored last night at the American Music Center’s (AMC) 2003 award ceremony in New York City. AMC, an organization founded by composer Aaron Copland that supports the proliferation of new American music and runs the Web site newmusicbox.org, awarded Shorter with its Letter of Distinction, putting him on a list with Leonard Bernstein, John Cage, Ornette Coleman, Morton Feldman, Dizzy Gillespie and others. Zorn was given the new Trailblazer Award, which, as the name suggests, recognizes individuals who work to push music into unknown territory. Zorn is one of those, mos def.

George Steel of Columbia University’s Miller Theatre was also given a Trailblazer Award, and four other artists were honored with a Letter of Distinction as well: George Crumb, Ronald Freed (in memoriam), Kyle Gann, Steve Reich. More info on AMC is available at their Web site, amc.net. And, because we know you love data, below is a full list of AMC Letter of Distinction recipients.