David Lang named Chevalier of France's Order of Arts and Letters
Composer and YSM faculty member David Lang ’83 MMA, ’89 DMA has been awarded the insignia of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication. The award was announced late last week.
Lang was awarded the insignia alongside Tim Griffin, executive director of The Kitchen, on October 16 at the Payne Whitney Mansion in New York. Bénédicte de Montlaur, the French Embassy’s cultural counselor, presented the award, which was created in 1957 to recognize those who have contributed to the furthering of French art.
A professor of the YSM composition faculty since 2008, David Lang’s music has been performed by major musical, dance, and theatrical organizations throughout the world and have earned him numerous accolades including the Pulitzer Prize for music. He is also know for his work as co-founder and co-artistic director of contemporary music collective Bang on a Can, which has toured widely in France. Lang often collaborates with French choreographers like Maud le Pladec and Benjamin Millepied, and has contributed to French art projects and installations at the Fondation Cartier and the Raymond Raymond Poincaré hospital.
