Cedille Records Founder Receives $25,000 Arts Achievement Award

CHICAGO, Dec. 22, 2010 — James Ginsburg, founder and president of Cedille Records, Chicago's acclaimed independent, nonprofit classical label, was recently honored with an arts achievement award bestowed by a local foundation.

The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier Charitable Foundation selected Ginsburg as one of four 2010 Meier Achievement Award honorees, each of whom received $25,000, plus funds to cover income tax liability.

At Ginsburg's request, the total award check for $33,333 was made payable to The Chicago Classical Recording Foundation, Cedille Records' parent organization.

The Grammy Award-winning Cedille label, which Ginsburg launched in 1989, champions exceptional classical artists and composers in and from Chicago — a trove of talent long overlooked by the international recording conglomerates.

In a letter to Ginsburg, Helen Coburn Meier, president and co-founder of the Wilmette, Ill., foundation, said, "Something had to be done, and you did it. Among the many thank-yous from living musicians, please add our appreciation for the special part you play in our cultural life."

The Meir Foundation "recognizes Chicago-based artists in mid-career who push the artistic envelope," according to a foundation statement. The organization relies on nominators, with the final selections made by its board. "There are no applications, no project to submit, and no outcome measurements."

Other 2010 award recipients are sculptor Terrence Karpowicz, multimedia artist Miroslaw Rogala, and dancer and choreographer Molly Shanahan.

The Meier Foundation is online at www.meierfoundation.org. Cedille Records is at www.cedillerecords.org.

Nat Silverman
Nathan J. Silverman Co. PR
JJP