BMI Composers Heather Christian and Craig Taborn Named MacArthur Fellows

BMI is excited to share the news that two of our composers, Heather Christian and Craig Taborn, have been selected to receive prestigious "genius grants" from the MacArthur Foundation. These prestigious fellowships are $800,000, no-strings-attached awards that are bestowed on talented and creative individuals as investments in their potential. Music creators who have received these awards have demonstrated the ability to impact society in significant and beneficial ways through their pioneering work and the rigor of their contributions.

Heather Christian is a composer, lyricist, playwright and vocalist from Beacon, NY, whose work explores the integration of the sacred and tangible worlds. Influenced by jazz, blues, liturgical music and European choral traditions, Christian's richly orchestrated work intermingles personal and metaphysical concepts that are both emotionally resonant and spiritually complex.

Brooklyn-born Craig Taborn is an improvising musician and composer expansively versed in multiple genres. An adventurous and sophisticated pianist, Taborn explores his instrument's capabilities with precision in fully improvised performances, infusing classical elements with spontaneous jazz experimentation, all while still sustaining compositional integrity of the piece.

Congratulations, Heather and Craig, on these impressive honors!