Kate DiCamillo wins second Newbery
Feeling a little cold this morning? Here's some good news to warm you up:
Minnesota author Kate DiCamillo won her second Newbery Medal this morning. DiCamillo won the medal for her book "Flora & Ulysses."
DiCamillo, who was recently named the Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, won her first Newbery Medal in 2004 for "The Tale of Despereaux."
In more arts news: Last night, the Minnesota Orchestra, which just announced a new series of concerts after ending a 14-month lockout, won the Grammy for Best Orchestral Performance.
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The orchestra, with Osmo Vanska conducting, won for its recording of Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 by Sibelius.
"I want to congratulate the Orchestra and Osmo on this outstanding honor," said Michael Henson, the Orchestra's President and CEO in a statement. "This institution has an illustrious recording history that dates to the 1920s, and today's award is a brilliant achievement in that long legacy."
Vanska released this statement upon hearing the news:
"I am absolutely thrilled that this recording of Sibelius Symphonies 1 and 4 -- works so close to my heart -- has been honoured with a Grammy Award. I am immensely happy and proud to have been able to achieve this in partnership with my dear and devoted friends at BIS record label and with the remarkable musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra. It is the greatest honour to be presented with such a distinctive award by our peers - and I convey my genuine thanks to The Recording Academy for this wonderful recognition."
The Minnesota Orchestra said it will perform concerts at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis March 27 to 29 in celebration of the Grammy win. Vanska will conduct the orchestra's performance of the Sibelius symphonies honored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Meanwhile, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is connected to four Grammy wins for the Dawn Upshaw/Maria Schneider album Winter Morning Walks. One of the pieces on the album is 'Carlos Drummond de Andrade Stories,' which was commissioned by The SPCO, on which they perform.