Leonard Bernstein at The MacDowell Colony, 1962.
Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) was already famous when he first stayed at The MacDowell Colony in 1962.  He returned in 1970 and 1972.  “All of those times I was writing works which had, at least in intent, a vastness, which were dealing with subjects of astronomical if not mystical and astrological dimension,” Bernstein reminisced in 1987.  “This vastness is inherent somehow in this place.”

I received praise and notoriety from the award of a MacDowell fellowship last week, but I tend to see this in a different light.
I see this as a well placed bet on me to succeed, or at least produce some enduring and imaginative work. It would be a large waste of time, money, and individual effort on the part of many people involved at the MacDowell colony, if they were not exceedingly careful in selecting artists who are likely to produce, and in a timely manner.

A residency is a highly regarded and much coveted honor. To belong to this group of fellows is to sense the outside support now as well as the inner drive and passion within. My wish is that these posts, as they progress, will shed light on the “muses”, both individual, and collective, among composers.