Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVLLE, Miss.--A junior member of Mississippi State's music education faculty is receiving national recognition from a prestigious Massachusetts music foundation.
Jason Bahr, an assistant professor of music theory at the university for the past two years, is among 14 recently commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation to develop new compositions of their choice.
In addition to the honor of being among an elite group of professionals, Bahr is receiving $10,000 to support his creative efforts over a three-year period. When completed, his and the other compositions will be debuted at a foundation-sponsored concert.
"The Fromm Prize is considered one of the most significant peer-reviewed composition competitions in the world," said Michael Brown, head of MSU's music education department, in congratulating his colleague.
"These commissions represent one of the principal ways the foundation works to strengthen composition and bring contemporary concert music closer to the public," he added.
Founded some 50 years ago by Illinois philanthropist and music patron Paul Fromm, the foundation is responsible for more than 300 new works over its existence. Located since 1972 at Harvard University, the organization also has sponsored hundreds of public programs, including the Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music and Fromm Concert Series.
Bahr holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and master's and doctoral degrees from Indiana University.
His earlier compositions have been featured in more than 150 combined performances throughout the United States and abroad. Those works also have been honored with a variety of awards and recognitions.