Brooklyn College introduces its inaugural Tania León Chair of Music.

March 27, 2024

Brooklyn College introduces its inaugural Tania León Chair of Music.

Malcolm J. Merriweather will assume the position in the fall of 2024 at Brooklyn College, where the School of Visual Media and Performing Arts (SVMPA) has unveiled its inaugural endowed chair in music, named the Tania León Chair of Music. This prestigious chair was generously funded by The Tow Foundation and is named in tribute to León, a significant figure at Brooklyn College since 1985. She held the title of Tow Distinguished Professor from 2000 until her retirement as Professor Emeritus in 2019.

The distinguished conductor and educator, Malcolm J. Merriweather, who has been a faculty member at the College since 2015, will be the inaugural holder of the Tania León Chair of Music starting in the Fall of 2024. This endowment will provide support for his teaching, research, and mentorship efforts aimed at nurturing diverse talent.

The establishment of this Chair celebrates León's remarkable career achievements, which include winning the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Music, receiving a Kennedy Center Honor for her lifetime artistic contributions, and being awarded the Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition from Northwestern University. Currently, she serves in various prestigious roles, such as an honorary chair for the Recording Academy’s Songwriters & Composers Wing, a member of the Board of Directors for the New York Philharmonic and ASCAP Foundation, Composer-in-Residence for the London Philharmonic Orchestra for their 2023-25 seasons, and Carnegie Hall’s Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair for its 2023-2024 season.

"It is a tremendous privilege to have the inaugural chair in music at Brooklyn College named in my honor," expressed León. "This exceptional institution has been a sanctuary and a wellspring of inspiration for me for over three decades, embodying the essence of what music and the arts should represent: dynamic, meaningful, groundbreaking, and reflective of the rich diversity of our vibrant city. Knowing that this position will contribute to nurturing exceptional talents like Malcolm J. Merriweather, both in their pedagogical endeavors and their creative pursuits, fills me with immense optimism for the future."

Currently serving as the Director of the New York Philharmonic Chorus and Music Director of The Dessoff Choirs and Orchestra, Malcolm J. Merriweather has garnered acclaim for his world premiere recordings, earning nominations for prestigious awards such as the GRAMMYs. As the founding Artistic Director of “Voices of Haiti,” a 60-member children’s choir in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, under the Andrea Bocelli Foundation's auspices, Merriweather has demonstrated his commitment to fostering musical talent.

"I am deeply humbled to be selected as the inaugural Tania León Chair of Music," Merriweather remarked. "Tania embodies a rare blend of exceptional musicality and unwavering dedication to nurturing the next generation of artists. Her contagious passion and commitment to mentorship are truly inspiring. I eagerly anticipate building upon her remarkable legacy and leveraging this opportunity to explore innovative avenues for guiding and supporting the musical voices of tomorrow."

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Brooklyn College introduces its inaugural Tania León Chair of Music.

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