Composer and NewMusicBox correspondent Missy Mazzoli’s photos from the Barbican’s celebration of Steve Reich.

Kronos Quartet and Patti Smith have been named the winners of the 2011 Polar Music Prize Award, which comes with a cash award of one million Swedish Crowns (approx $165,101 USD).

Composers Sean Friar and Lei Liang are among the 27 winners of the 115th annual Rome Prize Competition.

By exclusive agreement, Boosey & Hawkes now represents Shepherd’s existing catalog of orchestral and chamber music as well as future works worldwide.

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has selected 180 scholars, artists, and scientists (from a group of almost 3,000 applicants) to receive fellowships in its 87th annual competition for the United States and Canada.

The ASCAP Foundation has announced prizes of approximately $45,000 for 30 composers under the age of 30; an additional 19 received honorable mention.

Formal remarks are set to begin at 5:45 p.m. EDT. Use the stream’s chat window or Twitter (hashtag #newmusicUSA) to send us your questions.

The American Music Center and Meet The Composer announced today their intention to merge into a new advocacy and service organization, New Music USA; the American Composers Forum will take on AMC’s membership and professional development services.

AMC has announced the recipients of its 2011 awards: John Harbison (Founder’s Award), William Bolcom and Copland House (Letters of Distinction), So Percussion (Trailblazer Award), and The Walden School (New Music Educator Award).

Kristin Lancino, vice president of G. Schirmer/AMP noted that “the entire team on all continents looks forward to a long partnership with both his new composed works and the dynamic existing catalogue.”