By Christine S. Escobar
10 finalists have been chosen for this year’s Lewis Prize celebrating people building “positive change in their communities through music”. The programs they lead include choral, jazz, orchestra, musical theatre, and audio and music tech programs that foster the “holistic growth of young people” in their local communities.
Only in its 2nd year, the prize awards 3 organizations with $500,000 Accelerator Awards that provide “multi-year support to enable leaders and organizations to make sustained progress toward ambitious community change initiatives that align with The Lewis Prize for Music’s values and vision.”
The 2021 finalists are:
Dave W. Christopher Sr. and Academy of Music Production Education and Development (AMPED) of Louisville, KY
Dantes Rameau and Atlanta Music Project, Atlanta, GA
Matthew Kerr, Christopher Thornton and Beyond the Bars, Philadelphia, PA
Celina Miranda and Hyde Square Task Force, Boston, MA
DeLashea Strawder and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, MI
Susan Colangelo and Saint Louis Story Stitchers, St. Louis, MO
Michael Reyes, Elizabeth Stone and We Are Culture Creators, Detroit, MI
Terri Winston and Women’s Audio Mission, San Francisco, CA
On January 12, 2021, the Lewis Prize for Music will announce the 2021 Accelerator Awards.