Paquito D’Rivera, Dr. Indira Etwaroo, and Edward Yim will receive the honor

On October 25, 2023, the American Composers Orchestra (ACO) will award three artists with the Creative Catalyst Awards at the ensemble's gala event.

Selected because they exemplify the ACO's core values of artistry, creativity, community, and equity, they are Paquito D’Rivera, Dr. Indira Etwaroo, and Edward Yim.

A jazz, bebop, and Latin artist with 14 combined GRAMMY and Latin Grammy awards, Paquito D'Rivera is passionate about the integration of Latin music with other genres. He has also written a great many classical works, and his most recent National Symphony commission, The Journey, premiered in 2022 with Yo-Yo Ma as soloist.

Producer, director, scholar, and arts and culture executive Dr. Indira Etwaroo is presently the Director at Apple's Steve Jobs Theater. Prior to this, she held an executive leadership role at the Billie Holiday Theater, and during her tenure, the organization received the Presidential Medal of the Arts for 2020/21.

Edward Yim is the Chief Content Officer and Senior Vice President of WQXR, New York’s classical music radio station. During his time there, Yim has implemented measures to help the station reach a more inclusive audience, as well as driving digital innovation to help the station stay relevant in the modern world.

"We are thrilled to honor three visionaries who have each so powerfully advanced artistic practices in every aspect of their work, while nurturing the creative artists whose imaginations will shape our future," said Melissa Ngan, the CEO of the American Composers Orchestra.

"It brings us great joy to bring the ACO family together to celebrate the music, cuisine, and culture of the Americas and to support the creation of new American music on stages and in communities across the country."