Awards

2020
John Cage Award, Foundation for Contemporary Arts

2019
American Academy of Arts and Letters Member
Honorary Doctorate, University of Hartford

2018
Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, Concordia University

2017
Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize
Honorary Doctorate of Arts, Lafayette College

2015
National Medal of the Arts from President Obama

2014
Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall

2013
Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, Republic of France
New Music USA Founders Award

2012
Doris Duke Artist
Musical America’s 2012 Composer of the Year

2011
NPR’s 50 Great Voices
Yoko Ono Lennon Courage Award for the Arts

2010
American Music Center Letter of Distinction

2008
Premio Arlecchino d’Oro 2008, Mantova Festival, Italy

2007
Demetrio Stratos International Award for Musical Experimentation

2006
American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow
United States Artists Fellow

2005
ASCAP Concert Music Award

2002
Music Publishers’ Association 2002 Paul Revere Awards
Octavio Sheet Music 1st Prize
Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, Cornish School of the Arts

2001
Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, Boston Conservatory

1999
Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, San Fransisco Art Institute

1998
Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, The Juilliard School

1996
Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award
Sarah Lawrence College Distinguished Alumnae Award
New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship Award in Choreography
MacDowell Colony Fellow

1995
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship Award

1991
The Conlon Nancarrow and Yoko Siguira Fellowship

1994
Norton Stevens Fellow

1993
MacDowell Colony Fellow

1992
Dance Magazine Award

1989
Doctorate of Fine Arts, University of the Arts, Philadelphia

1988
MacDowell Colony Fellow
Doctorate of Arts, Bard College

1987
Rockefeller Foundation Distinguished Choreographer Award
Sigma Iota Fellowship, MacDowell Colony

1986
National Music Theater Award
German Critics Prize for the Best Record of the Year for OUR LADY OF LATE: THE VANGUARD TAPES

1985
Bessie Award for Sustained Creative Achievement
New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship Award in Music Composition
Obie Award for Sustained Achievement

1983
Villager Outstanding Composition Award for TURTLE DREAMS (WALTZ)
Grand Prize in Performance Video, Video Culture / Canada Festival-Toronto for TURTLE DREAMS
First Place for Performance Programing, Corporation for Public Broadcasting CTCA-TV for PARIS

1982: Guggenheim Fellowship
Creative Artists Program Service Award (CAPS)

1981
German Critics Prize for Best Record of the Year for DOLMEN MUSIC
CINE Golden Eagle for ELLIS ISLAND
Atlanta Film Festival Special Jury Prize for ELLIS ISLAND

1980
New York Dance Film Festival Merit Award for 16MM Earrings

1977
Creative Artist Program Service Award (CAPS)

1976
Obie Award for Oustanding Production for QUARRY

1975
Venice Biennale First Prize for EDUCATION OF THE GIRLCHILD

1974
Brandeis Creative Arts Award

1972
Guggenheim Fellowship

1971
Obie Award for Oustanding Production for VESSEL