News
Composer clinches inaugural Roland award
Rob Power Aug 17 2007, 10:15am
The Roland Foundation has awarded its first ever Hamamatsu Electronics Award.
Composer Isao Tomita won the award in recognition of outstanding performance in the use of electronic musical instruments.
Tomita's electronic debut, Snowflakes are Dancing, was an exploration of the works of Claude Debussy and was a worldwide smash, hitting the top spot of the Billboard classical charts in 1974. A succession of popular hit albums concreted Tomita's place as a trailblazing electronic musician, and in recognition of this was awarded the Roland Foundation prize.
"In choosing Isao Tomita as the recipient of the inaugural award, both the reccomendation committee and the selection committee have been unanimous in their acclamation of his works," commented Roland Foundation chairmand Ikutaro Kakehashi.
"We have planned for some time to institute a means to recognise people who are exploring new fields through activities and research involving electronic musical instruments. Now the occasion to present an actual award have arrived, these plans have come to fruition."
The Roland Foundation was established in 1994 to encourage art and culture to support the use and spread of electronic instruments and technology. It provides aid and scholarship to young musicians, as well as sponsoring events and promotions.
