Seraphic Fire has received a $180,000 grant from the Knight Foundation. The grant will allow them to become an ensemble-in-residence at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, where they will perform several concerts, alone and with the Firebird Chamber Orchestra.
A new report from the German institute for Economic Research shows that learning a musical instrument results in better cognitive skills and higher grades in school. The report found that music students are more "conscientious, open, and ambitious" and that they score higher on standardized tests, particularly on verbal skill tests.
The Knight Foundation has announced winners of the 2013 Knight Arts Challenge. Winners include ArtCenter/South Florida ($120,000 to relaunch a residency program); Community Arts program ($100,000 to expand its after-school jazz program); Gablestage ($80,000 to bring one program a year to local middle school and high school students); Key West Council for the Arts ($7,000 to create a month-long program to foster family interest in classical music); Palm Beach Opera ($80,000 to present a free opera concert at the Waterfront); and WDNA-FM ($40,000 for jam sessions, performances, and educational and cultural exchanges at the WDNA Jazz Gallery).
Representative John Conyers (D-MI) and the House Judiciary Committee are exploring whether revisions are needed to copyright laws. Under current law, songs recorded before 1972 are not protected under Federal law, and therefore artists whose recordings were made before 1972 are not compensated when their songs are digitally broadcast. Artists whose songs were recorded in 1972 or later do receive compensation under current copyright law.
Atlantic Classical Orchestra Executive Director Anne Berquist is leaving for Michigan. Berquist has recently been appointed executive director of Opera Grand Rapids, a position she will begin to fill before the end of the calendar year. Berquist was executive director of the Atlantic Classical orchestra for little over a year.
The New World Symphony has received a $60,000 grant from the NEA. The grant will be used to support their musician professional development program.
The Miami Music Project has received a $100,000 grant from the Knight Foundation. The grant will be used to found a chapter of the ESMIA (El Sistema Miami) Children's Orchestra in Liberty City.