the real
We asked past Alpert recipients, what did they actually do with the prize? What might not have gotten made? What would have been harder - or impossible - without it?
- two orchestral compositions
- a project I had wanted to do for 12 years...the idea became a journey, and the journey became a film
- hiring an administrative assistant to help me run my company
- making a new album
- starting a retirement account
- a trip to Japan to present work
- paying performers, lighting designer, video designer, sound designer
- traveling for a piece that I couldn't have done otherwise
- going back to school to get my MFA so I can teach
- turning an old church in upstate New York, into a studio, where I can make my work from now on
- paying the rent between jobs
And?
- health insurance and bookshelves
- scores and CDs to study for creation and teaching
- new glasses
- a gym membership
- 2 wigs
- a house
- equipment for my tour
- an electric Chinese-lacquer red harp
Other things the Alpert has enabled?
- easing the $$worry-center$$ in my brain, allowing more fruitful thoughts to emerge.
- alleviating panic - how would I survive? The Alpert allows me to keep on keeping on.
- confidence building; continuing to feel honored each year when I meet the new recipients.
- seeing me through a fallow period, laying the ground for a more fruitful period, and helping me, these many years later, to make possible the work I am doing now.
- saying no to bad gigs!
Then there is the alchemical matter of time:
- planning, realizing and completing a longer, more time-intensive project
- 14 months working in solitude, which led as well to being inspired to create my own foundation with a similar mission to the Alpert!
- a year of freedom to think in peace about the longer term
- time to study and to think about the evolution of my work
- 3 months this summer without teaching to write, write, write
