VC 'Young Artist' Tessa Lark Awarded $50,000 Leonore Annenberg Bursary

24 year old American VC 'Young Artist' Tessa Lark has been announced as 1 of 7 recipients of a coveted 2014 Leonore Annenberg Fellowship.

Now in its 7th year, and administered by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, the annual bursaries are awarded to young American performing and visual artists of exceptional promise – providing financial assistance of US $50,000 a year, for up to two years.

Tessa Lark | Telemann | Fantasia No. 7 in E Flat for Solo Violin

“The Leonore Annenberg Fellowship Fund provides support to artists during a vibrant period of transition in their professional life, enabling them to develop artistically as they realise their career goals,” Program Director Gail Levin has said.

A graduate of the New England Conservatory, where she studied with Miriam Fried and Lucy Chapman, Tessa is a former 1st prize winner at the Naumburg International Violin Competition.

“I am so honoured and grateful to be receiving this incredible support from the Annenberg Fellowship Fund,” Tessa has told The Violin Channel, "... this grant will provide me with the invaluable opportunity to focus in on the most important aspects of my career development - a luxury that is seldom possible as a young artist in today's world".

This year's other recipients include New York-based violinist Francesca dePasquale, bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, actors Molly Bernard and Sarah Sokolovic, visual artist Mia Rosenthal and dancer Calvin Royal.

Tessa has indicated the grant will be of great assistance with her upcoming project to record Telemann's 'Twelve Fantasias for Solo Violin'.

Source: New England Conservatory