The Society for New Music (SNM) is a contemporary classical music organization based in Syracuse, New York. SNM presents concerts devoted entirely to contemporary music, funds commissions, produces recordings and presents awards to young composers.

History

SNM was founded in 1971 by

Neva Pilgrim Neva Pilgrim (born in Minnesota, United States) is an American soprano known for her work in the performance of contemporary classical music. She grew up on a farm in Cottonwood County in southwestern Minnesota, near Bingham Lake, between Mounta ...

with the main purpose of promoting contemporary music in the

Central New York Region The Central New York Region (formerly the Central-Leatherstocking Region, also known as Leatherstocking Country) is a term used by the New York State Department of Economic Development to broadly describe the central region of New York for to ...

Mission and Work

SNM commissions new works, and advocates for composers through ''Society News'' (their in-house print and digital publication) and via their radio show, ''Fresh Ink'' on

WCNY-FM WCNY-FM (Classic FM) is a public radio station in Syracuse, New York that plays classical music and is a National Public Radio (NPR) member station. Broadcasting on 91.3 MHz, the station is owned and operated by The Public Broadcasting Council ...

. SNM provides regional musicians with opportunities to perform music by their peers. Works are offered on television, radio, and live performances.

Commissions

Since its inception, SNM has commissioned new works by over fifty composers from the Central New York region, including faculty from Syracuse University, the

Eastman School of Music The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman. It offers Bachelor of Music ...

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to tea ...

, and many other schools in the area. Many of the composers have won significant awards, such as the Pulitzer Prize in music.

SNM Commissioned Composers

Recordings

The Society for New Music has released recordings on a variety of labels, including

Innova Recordings Innova Recordings is the independent record label of the non-profit American Composers Forum based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1982 to document the winners of the McKnight Fellowship offered by its parent organization, the Minnesot ...

, Composers Recordings, Inc. (CRI) and

Mode Records Mode Records is an American record label in New York City that concentrates on contemporary classical music and other forms of avant-garde music. The label was founded by Brian Brandt in 1984, with a goal of releasing music composed by John Cage. ...

. SNM's "American Masters for the 21st Century" on Innova currently includes five albums dedicated to music by living American composers.

Brian Israel Prize

Since 1985, SNM has awarded prizes to composers under age 30. The annual award honors the memory of American composer

Brian Israel Brian Israel (February 5, 1951 - May 7, 1986), was an American composer, pianist, and conductor. He was a faculty member of the Syracuse University School of Music from 1975 until his death, at age 35, from leukemia. He left a large number of symph ...

"who died of leukemia at the age of 35 in 1986. He was on Syracuse University's School of Music faculty at the time of his death. During his short life, Israel championed gifted emerging composers." Winners receive performances of a chamber work, either of the work that won the award, or a different work.

Brian Israel Prize Winners and Honorable Mentions

* (2019) Winners: Julian Bennett Holmes (SNM), Paul Edward Frucht (NY Federation of Music Clubs) Honorable Mention: Tomek Arnold, Flannery Cunningham, Jonathan Rainous, Zoe Yucong Wang * (2018) Winners: Jack Freyer (SNM), Saad Haddad (NY Federation of Music Clubs) Honorable Mention: Douglas Hertz, Noah Kahrs, Michael Seltenreich * (2017) Winners: Alex Stephenson (SNM), Simon Frisch (NY Federation of Music Clubs) Honorable Mention: James Budinich *(2016) Winners: Ryan Chase (SNM), Kaito Nakahori (NY Federation of Music Clubs), Honorable Mentions: Charles Peck, Zachary Sheets *(2015) Winners: Alex Burtzos (SNM), Scott Etan Feiner (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mentions: Bin David Li, J. P. Redmond * (2014) Winners: John Liberatore (SNM), Michael Boyman (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mentions: JunYi Chow, Ross Scott Griffey * (2013) Winners: Juan Pablo Contreras (SNM), Amit Menahem Gilutz (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mentions: Eric Allen, Ross Scott Griffey, Nathan Heidelberger * (2012) Winners: Ted Goldman (SNM), Joseph Nathaniel Rubinstein (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mentions: Amit Menahem Gilutz, Justin Paul Jaramillo, Brandon Luis Ridenour, Harry Stafylakis * (2011) Winners: Thomas H. Healy (SNM), Bret Bohman (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mentions: Evan Antonellis, Thomas Arthur Murphy, Jessica Lynn Rudman * (2010) Winners: Michael Gilbertson (SNM), Chris Rogerson (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mentions: Evan Antonellis, Lembit Lepasaar Beecher * (2009) Winners: David Crowell (SNM), Samson Young (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mention: Evan Antonellis, Matthew Barson, Elizabeth Lim * (2008) Winners: Baljinder Singh Sekhon (SNM), Eleanor Aversa (NY Federation of Music Clubs), Andy Akiho (SNM 3rd Prize); Honorable Mentions: Dillon Kondor, Gity Razaz, David Salvage, Sheridan Seyfried, Sundar Subramanian, Daniel Wohl, Scott Wollschleger * (2007): Winners: Nicholas Omiccioli (SNM), Eric Nathan (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mentions: Eleanor Aversa, Ryan Carter, Jeff Myers, Gity Razaz, Shogo Samata * (2006): Winners: Christopher Doll (SNM), Ryan Gallagher (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mentions: John Paul Brabant, Chris Rogerson, Robert Singley * (2005) Winners: Patrick Castillo (SNM), Eric Schwartz (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mention: Christopher Tignor * (2004) Winners:

Adam Schoenberg Adam Schoenberg (born November 15, 1980) is an American composer. A member of the Atlanta School of Composers, his works have been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles in the U.S. Schoenberg was the 2010-2012 guest composer for the As ...

(SNM), Jesse Wright-Fitzgerald (NY Federation of Music Clubs); Honorable Mentions: John Arrigo-Nelson, Vera Ivanova, Peter Kim * (2003) Winners: Evan Johnson (SNM), Philip Rothman (NY Federation of Music Clubs) * (2002) Winner: Huang Ruo * (2001) Winner: Winnie Wing-Yee Cheung * (2000) Winner: Mark Dennis McConnell * (1999) Winner: Robert Paterson * (1998) Winner: Damon Lee * (1997) Winner:

Derek Bermel Derek Bermel (born 1967, in New York City) is an American composer, clarinetist and conductor whose music blends various facets of world music, funk and jazz with largely classical performing forces and musical vocabulary. He is the recipie ...

; Honorable Mention: Ann Lathan Kerzner * (1996) Winner: Yuzuru Sadashige * (1995) Winner: Anna Weesner * (1994) Winner: Michael Sidney Timpson * (1993) Winner: Sally Lamb McCune; Honorable Mention: David Lefkowitz * (1992) Winner: Michele Frida Green; Honorable Mention: David Lefkowitz * (1991) Winner: Kent Marks; Honorable Mention: Nolan Gasser * (1990) Winner: Alton Howe Clingan; Honorable Mention: Sean MacLean * (1989) Winner: Betsy L. Schramm; Honorable Mention: Stephen Taylor * (1988) Winner: Ronn Yedidia * (1987) Winner: Christopher Keyes; Honorable Mention: Jeremy Beck, Robert C. May * (1986) Winner: Donald Sloan; Honorable Mention: Linda Bouchard,

Lowell Liebermann Lowell Liebermann (born February 22, 1961 in New York City) is an American composer, pianist and conductor. Life and career At the age of sixteen, Liebermann performed at Carnegie Hall, playing his Piano Sonata, op. 1. He studied at the Juilliard ...

* (1985) Winner: Matthew Harris; Honorable Mention: Dan May,

Michael Torke Michael Torke (; born September 22, 1961) is an American composer who writes music influenced by jazz and minimalism. Torke was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he attended Wilson Elementary School, graduated from Wauwatosa East High School, an ...

References

External links

Official Website
{{Authority control Organizations established in 1971 Organizations based in Syracuse, New York Music organizations based in the United States American classical music groups Ensembles Ensembles