SEATTLE SYMPHONY HORN JOHN TURMAN TO RECEIVE FORD MUSICIAN AWARD FROM LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS FOR INSPIRING WORK OUTSIDE THE CONCERT HALL
ONE OF ONLY FIVE ORCHESTRA MUSICIAN AWARDEES NATIONWIDE, TURMAN TO SHARE AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK AT THE LEAGUE’S 76TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Seattle, WA — Seattle Symphony Horn John Turman is one of just five orchestra musicians from across the U.S. to receive a Ford Musician Award for Excellence in Community Service from the League of American Orchestras at the 2021 League Conference Online, June 7–17, 2021. Supported by Ford Motor Company Fund, the awards recognize professional musicians’ deeply impactful work outside the concert hall, much of it virtual this year due to the pandemic.
The 2021 awardees work with both adults and children in a rich variety of community settings, using music as a therapeutic tool for adults with severe and persistent mental health challenges; providing pop-up concerts during food bank distributions; bringing orchestra musicians to a regional hospital and the many constituents it serves; organizing front-porch private violin lessons and schoolyard group classes during the pandemic to breach the digital divide; and bringing the joy of music to toddlers and their families.
“We are incredibly proud that John is being recognized for his outstanding work on the Seattle Symphony’s Tiny Tots and Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots Series,” said Seattle Symphony President & CEO Krishna Thiagarajan. “John’s creative collaboration with our Education and Community Engagement team brought joy and inspiration into the homes of children and their families around the world through musical exploration. His work helped children not feel forgotten during this immensely challenging year, and the Seattle Symphony is honored to have him as a leading partner in the community.”
“The musicians we see on stage making great music together in an orchestra are all treasured individual members of their communities. Many of them are using their talents and humanity to teach, to inspire, and to draw out the power of music for comfort and healing,” said League President and CEO Simon Woods. “This award honors that work, and the incredible generosity of spirit that underpins it. We’re grateful to Ford Motor Company Fund for their years of support for this important program — made even more meaningful due to the pandemic.”
“These five musicians have truly gone above and beyond for their communities over the past year, creating lasting positive impacts during such an uncertain time,” said Yisel Cabrera, Manager, Government and Community Relations, Ford Motor Company Fund. “When people couldn’t get together in person, being able to connect through music brought joy to so many.”
“I believe this work is making a difference in children’s lives by bringing them comfort and joy with music as the conduit. That is what makes the biggest difference in our community,” said Seattle Symphony Horn and Ford Musician Award recipient John Turman. “With the ongoing restrictions on large gatherings here in Washington State, it is more important than ever to connect with our youngest learners and remind them that there is still happiness to experience, songs to sing, and music to be made.”
Since 2016, 25 professional orchestra musicians from across the country have received awards. Honorees were selected through a competitive application process; each musician receives a cash award of $2,500 and complimentary registration to the League’s National Conference. The musician’s orchestra receives a grant of $2,500 to support professional development for its roster of musicians, as well as complimentary registration for one staff member to attend the Conference.
The 2021 awardees will be recognized at the League of American Orchestras online Conference during the Opening Session on Monday, June 7 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. They will also present their work at “Partnering Effectively,” a joint constituency meeting for musicians and education and community engagement staff, on Monday, June 14 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Videos of the musicians’ work will be posted on the League’s website after the Conference.
Since joining the Seattle Symphony in 2015, Turman has been a creative collaborator with Education and Community Engagement team as well as a dedicated contributor to its educational and family programing. In addition to hosting the early music education concert series Tiny Tots during the regular season, Turman played a pivotal role in translating the beloved program into the digital realm. Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots was launched in April 2020, bringing musical exploration to the Symphony’s youngest viewers in their own homes throughout the stay-at-home period of the pandemic. Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots has since grown to become a part of the Symphony’s regular season offerings through Seattle Symphony Live, the organization’s streaming platform.
The five 2021 Ford Musician Awards for Excellence in Community Service honorees and their orchestras are:
Sean Claire, Violin
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s Music & Wellness program
Jeremy Crosmer, Cello
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s partnership with Kadima Mental Health Services’ Creative Expressions Program
Lorien Benet Hart, Violin
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s partnership with 412 Food Rescue
Miho Hashizume, Violin
The Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra’s violin program at Mound Elementary School in the Slavic Village neighborhood (front-porch private violin lessons and schoolyard group classes during the pandemic)
John Turman, Horn
Seattle Symphony
Tiny Tots early-childhood education series and Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots online program
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Led by Music Director Thomas Dausgaard, the Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 26 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 730,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts.
JOHN TURMAN
John Turman joined the Seattle Symphony in the fall of 2015 as Third Horn. Prior to becoming a member of the Seattle Symphony, Turman was awarded the position of Principal Horn of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in the spring of 2015. During the 2013–2014 season, Turman performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as Acting Third Horn. Additionally, he has performed with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Austin Symphony and the Austin Lyric Opera. In addition to his orchestral playing, Turman is a dedicated chamber musician, music educator and producer. He is the host and producer of the Seattle Symphony’s early music education program, Tiny Tots, as well as its online companion program, Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots. He is also the founder and executive producer of Horn Hippie Media LLC, an independent digital media company that serves education departments in orchestras across America. Originally from Austin, Texas, Turman received his degree in Horn Performance from Rice University in 2015 where he studied under William VerMeulen. In his free time, Turman enjoys powerlifting, video games and playing jazz guitar.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND
As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund’s mission is to strengthen communities and help make people’s lives better. Working with dealers and nonprofit partners in more than 50 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2.1 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS
The League of American Orchestras leads, supports, and champions America’s orchestras and the vitality of the music they perform. Its diverse membership of more than 1,800 organizations and individuals across North America runs the gamut from world-renowned orchestras to community groups, from summer festivals to student and youth ensembles, from conservatories to libraries, from businesses serving orchestras to individuals who love symphonic music. The national organization dedicated solely to the orchestral experience, the League is a nexus of knowledge and innovation, advocacy, and leadership advancement. Its conferences and events, award-winning Symphony magazine, website, and other publications inform people around the world about orchestral activity and developments. Founded in 1942 and chartered by Congress in 1962, the League links a national network of thousands of instrumentalists, conductors, managers and administrators, board members, volunteers, and business partners. Visit americanorchestras.org.
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