2015 S&R Washington Award Winners Announced

S&R Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports talented individuals with high aspirations in the arts, sciences and social entrepreneurship, today announced the winners of the 2015 S&R Washington Award including one Grand Prize winner. The four recipients will be officially honored at the S&R Washington Awards Gala on Saturday, June 4 at Evermay in Washington, DC.

"Our goal and ambition for the S&R Washington Award is to identify and honor highly talented individuals who display outstanding ability and artistic excellence, and to support the next steps in their creative development. We especially support those who contribute to an international cultural dialogue that is a key component of S&R Foundation's core mission," said Dr. Sachiko Kuno, CEO and President of S&R Foundation. "The 2015 winners are wonderful artists who work in diverse fields and communities and they represent the increasingly global reach of the arts in our society today. S&R Foundation is thrilled to support these creative young visionaries."

The S&R Washington Award recipients for 2015 are:

• Lembit Beecher, Composer(Grand Prize Winner)
  "I strive to compose music that creates dramatically potent yet intimate theatrical experiences, through seductive, quirky, and heartfelt worlds of sound. Though my work spans many genres, including chamber music, opera, orchestral music, and explorations of new technology, at its center is a deep belief in the powerof collaboration, with other musicians and artists, across different forms of media, and across international borders."
• Luosha Fang, Violin
  "I believe art is a universal language most enjoyed when shared with others. Different cultures each have their own, distinct voices, yet share a similar message. As a foreign young musician, I have experienced both Asian and North American culturesLiving in different cultures has given me a broader perspective on the need to deliver a universal humanitarian message. Music, with its universal language, is the most effective way to deliver this message."
• Jorge Maes Rubio, Mixed media (Sculpture, Photography, Installation)
  "My work asan artist explores the unseen. Forgotten places and stories inspire me tocreate artworks that reimagine these sites as attention-worthy destinations,shining light on social, political or environmental issues froman alternativeperspective. My practice revolves around research-driven methodologies and specificpolitical-social interventions, creating fictional narratives, visualexplorations and immersive installations, engaging withlocal resources andusing different medias to achieve the greatest social impact with my work."
• Jonathan Wintringham, Saxophone
  "The driving factor in my life as a musician has always been my pursuit of the highest level of artistry, and sharing that journey with a diverse community. I believe wholeheartedly in intercultural communication, in the sharing of the highest caliber of artistry and innovation, and in the impact that experiencing other cultures can have. With this support, I can continue to represent these ideals in meaningful ways that I hope will influence and inspire across cultural boundaries."

For more information and full biographies of the 2015 Washington Award winners, visit S&R Foundation.

Washington Award winners each receive a $5,000 prize to support their careers, while Grand Prize winners receive an additional $5,000.

This year, S&R welcomed several new committee members to judge applications for its longest-standing grant. Established in 2001, S&R's Washington Award has honored talented individuals with high aspirations in the fields of fine art, music, drama, dance, photography, film and other fields. Joining longtime committee members Robert Dwyer and Diane Kanca for the 2015 Washington Awards are:

• Jenny Bilfield, Washington Performing Arts, President & CEO
• Michael Djupstrom, Past Washington Award Grand Prize winner Composer/Pianist
• Philip Kennicott, Art and Architecture critic, The Washington Post
• Jason Moran, Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator and Artistic Director for Jazz, Kennedy Center
• Klaus Ottmann, Deputy Director for Curatorial and Academic Affairs, The Phillips Collection
• Caitlin Teal Price, Photography Artist

The S&R Washington Awards Gala will take place at Evermay on Saturday, June 4, beginning at 6:30pm. Individual tickets are $550, with a $600 VIP ticket available as well. This signature event offers several levels of sponsorship. For sponsorship levels, contact Kate Goodall at 202-298-6007. Please visit WashingtonAwards.org for additional information and to purchase tickets.