Renée Fleming to Receive Knowles Prize at Northwestern University
World-renowned American operatic soprano Renée Fleming is set to be honored on April 23 with the Knowles Prize for Distinguished Achievement, recognizing her significant contributions to the intersections of music and health.
The award ceremony will take place at Northwestern University, where Fleming will present her insights in a lecture titled “Music and Mind.” Following her presentation, she will join School of Communication Dean E. Patrick Johnson and School of Music Dean Jonathan Bailey Holland for a panel discussion.
Nina Kraus, a professor of neurobiology at Northwestern University and the director of the Knowles Hearing Center, expressed the importance of Fleming’s work: As a quintessential musician and a pioneering advocate at the intersection of music and health, Renée Fleming transcends artistic, social, and health-care boundaries, sharing the beauty and power of music — and its potential to heal through sound — with audiences around the world.
Kraus further highlighted Fleming’s commitment to music by stating, She is able to talk to people about music, health, and society with authority born of hard work and with generosity born of the love of learning.
Fleming holds an esteemed position as a public speaker on the impact of music on health and neuroscience. She is also the editor of the recent publication Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness, which discusses effective music therapies for a variety of health conditions.
About the Knowles Hearing Center
The Knowles Hearing Center, which was established in 1988, has long been committed to advancing research and clinical care in hearing health. Kraus noted that the Knowles Prize, awarded infrequently, recognizes individuals for exceptional contributions to the understanding and treatment of hearing disorders. This is the first time the prize will be awarded to an artist.
Fleming, a five-time Grammy Award winner, was also appointed by the World Health Organization as a Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health. Tickets for the event are free of charge but require advance registration.
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