Faculty composer Amy Williams has been named a 2015 Guggenheim Fellow. Williams was one of 175 scholars, artists, and scientists selected from a pool of over 3100 applicants. She intends to spend her fellowship year composing three new pieces and recording a second album of music devoted to her compositions. In addition, she will collaborate with video artist Aaron Henderson, a faculty member of the Department of Studio Arts, in a realization of her complete Cineshape series of chamber works inspired by films.

The great variety of backgrounds, fields of study, and accomplishments of Guggenheim Fellows is one of the most unique characteristics of the Fellowship program. In all, this year’s fellows represent 51 disciplines, 63 different academic institutions, 23 states and the District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces. The 2015 Fellows range in age from 29 to 83. Williams joins a distinguished list of composers who received fellowships this year, including George Lewis, Steve Lehman, and Rand Steiger.

Since its establishment in 1925, the Foundation has granted over $325 million in Fellowships to almost 18,000 individuals, among whom are scores of Nobel laureates and poets laureate, as well as winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Fields Medal, and other important, internationally recognized honors.

Congratulations to Professor Williams as she embarks on this new creative chapter!