“The M-Prize, a chamber music competition with $100,000 grand prize based at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) in Ann Arbor, will not be returning for a fourth edition in 2019,” states an unsigned article in Friday’s (12/7) The Strad (U.K.). “A statement said that the SMTD ‘has regrettably determined that financial support for the competition cannot be sustained.’ The prize was announced in October 2015 as the biggest chamber music competition in the world, with its inaugural event receiving 172 applications from 13 countries … It was launched by Sphinx Organization founder Aaron Dworkin, who had then just been appointed dean of the SMTD. His tenure [as dean] was short-lived, however, and it is speculated that the M-Prize was always unlikely to survive without his patronage and fundraising network. ‘We are profoundly grateful to U-M Office of the Provost and an anonymous donor, both of whom made it possible for SMTD to run the competition for three inspirational years,’ said Matt Albert, chair of SMTD’s Department of Chamber Music …‘As our financial resources changed, we explored multiple avenues to keep it going beyond its initial three year launch. Unfortunately, none of them was sustainable for the School.’ ”
Posted December 10, 2018
