Michael Weiss Wins BMI/Monk Insitute's Composition Competition

Pianist Michael Weiss has been selected as the grand prize winner of the 8th annual Thelonious Monk International Composers Competition, sponsored by BMI. At the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Weiss performed his winning composition, El Camino during the Hand Drum Competition finals on September 10. Weiss was presented the $10,000 grand prize award by BMI vice president Robbin Ahrold and Wayne Shorter.

Michael Weiss has established a formidable reputation, working with such top names as Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Wynton Marsalis, george Coleman, the Jazztet and Charles McPherson. In addition to being in demand as a sideman, Weiss has maintained roles as a bandleader, recording artist, composer, arranger and educator. Weiss began focusing his repertoire on his own compositions with the release of Power Station, selected among the Best Five Recordings of 1997 by Jazz Times, which said Weiss “writes with thought-provoking originality." His sextet recently headlined at the Detroit Jazz Festival, broadcasting live on NPR. Other television and radio programs that have featured Weiss as a soloist and bandleader include Nightwatch, Jazzset, Live From Lincoln Center, Piano Jazz and the Jazz Piano Christmas Special.

To learn more about Michael Weiss, visit his website at http://www.jazzcorner.com/weiss