For immediate release:

New Music Concerts Chosen for $20,000 Prize

October 23, 2006

More than two hundred guests – family, friends, artists and business associates – gathered at the Art Gallery of Ontario Monday October 16^th in a gala tribute to Michael M. Koerner, the CBAC 2006 winner of the prestigious Edmund C. Bovey Award.

This unique national award recognizes an individual from the business community who has contributed leadership, time, money and expertise over many years to benefit the arts. For more than 40 years, Mr. Koerner, who is President of Canada Overseas Investments Limited, has been a quiet but tireless supporter of the arts. His nomination for the Bovey award, which was prepared by, and submitted to CBAC by the Art Gallery of Ontario, contained more than thirty letters of endorsement.

The annual prize consists of two parts: a specially-commissioned sculpture for the Bovey winner and a $20,000 prize which the winner gives to the arts organization or artist of their choice. Mr. Koerner chose New Music Concerts for the cash prize. Robert Aitken, founder and Artistic Director of New Music Concerts, and Canada's pre-eminent flute player, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

New Music Concerts presents the most recent works of Canadian and international composers in a series of concerts covering many styles and genres, reflecting the face of contemporary concert music throughout the world. The presence of the composer is essential to the format of the concerts and artistic policy demands extensive rehearsals for the works undertaken and the finest musicianship in the performing ensembles. Encouraging creativity through innovative programming and the commissioning of new work is an integral part of the organization's vision. Artists, programs and projects are selected and developed on the basis of this mandate to provide interesting, thought-provoking programming, enhanced by "Illuminating Introductions" and comprehensive program notes. New Music Concerts has been bringing the world's best contemporary musical art forms to Toronto since 1971.

For more information:
Billie Bridgman
CBAC : (416) 869-3016 x224
e-Mail: b_bridgman@businessforarts.org
Web: www.businessforarts.org