9/17/2009

in

$10 million donation for new music given to the orchestra

Thomas Vo

[The New York Philharmonic](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/arts/music/15arts-PHILHARMONIC_BRF.html), America's oldest orchestra, has received a donation for new music. Financier, Henry R. Kravis, has donated $10 million to the orchestra. The money will go to pay for a composer-in-residence post, in addition to a $250,000 prize every two years to a working composer. Recipient of the prize must compose a piece for the Philharmonic.  
  
[![2009 New York Philharmonic Spring Gala](http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/5/a/2/0/2009_New_York_a23e.jpg?adImageId=3069738&imageId=4596490)](http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=new york philharmonic&iid=4596490)


In addition to the donations, the orchestra has also received a new music director, [Alan Gilbert](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jGOiFMAxbJksFKFXqR124tX0qcLwD9AP89LG0). Gilbert opened the season on Wednesday. Gilbert is the 25th music director of the orchestra.  
  
On the Wednesday airing, Gilbert made a bold move by premiering Magnus Lindberg's "EXPO." This has been the first time a new piece has been used to as the gala opener since 1962. Lindberg will continue to write pieces for the orchestra while overseeing its contemporary-music section.  
  
The residency post and prize have been named after Kravis' wife, Marie-Josee Kravis.