Former Artist in Residence Wins 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Music
Ellen Reid, recent School of Music artist in residence and Oak Ridge, Tennessee native, won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her debut opera, “p r i s m.” The opera addresses the effects of sexual and emotional abuse.
“I am blown away and incredibly honored to receive this year’s Pulitzer Prize in music,” she said in an interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel. “Composing ‘p r i s m’ was a challenging, rewarding, and deeply personal experience, and I hope this opera will help shed light on the experience of surviving sexual assault.”
In 2015, the UT Symphony Orchestra debuted Reid’s musical work Knoxville: Summer of 2015, a musical sequel to Samuel Barber’s famous Knoxville: Summer of 1915 at the historic Tennessee Theatre. Reid worked with librettist Royce Vavrek on this follow-up to Barber’s work composed in 1947. “The concert was beautifully curated, and it truly brought music and drama students together,” Reid stated.
In addition to debuting her work, UT brought Reid and Vavrek to campus for a short residency during which they lectured about their work and spent time with the UT Symphony Orchestra and its conductor, James Fellenbaum. “I really enjoyed working with the UT Orchestra,” Reid said. “Collaborations are a huge part of the artistic world, and the people we collaborate with greatly influence both our work and our lives.”
Reid has certainly built upon her many experiences and grown into one of the great artists of her generation. She realizes that many aspiring artists and students will now try to follow in her footsteps, but she encourages everyone to create their own path. “The more you do your own thing, listen closely to what moves you, and create work that is representative of what you believe, the more powerful your work will be,” Reid said. “It’s also important to realize that nobody does anything alone and to appreciate the people around you who will be part of your journey.”
“The more you do your own thing, listen closely to what moves you, and create work that is representative of what you believe, the more powerful your work will be,” Reid said. “It’s also important to realize that nobody does anything alone and to appreciate the people around you who will be part of your journey.”
