Laurette Goldberg Award

2022 Recipient: Debra Nagy

“On behalf of myself and the board and staff of Les Délices, thank you so much to EMA for this important recognition! We’ve worked pretty tirelessly over the last few years to develop SalonEra and our other virtual outreach programs and we are very passionate about using this work to elevate diverse voices and repertoires and to expand general audiences for early music. While the music we love to share may be old, we remain committed to utilizing new formats and technologies to meet listeners and viewers where they are – whether that’s on a computer, tv, phone, or through live performance in the community. It’s an honor to receive this award named for such a creative, passionate, and dedicated community builder and early music advocate, Laurette Goldberg.” – Debra Nagy

Debra Nagy has acquired a reputation for creating fascinating and inviting concert experiences through her work with Les Délices. A musical polymath whose performances and expertise stretch from late-Medieval music through the Classical period, Nagy draws on “her rolodex of superb musicians” (ClevelandClassical.com) to introduce audiences to artists and repertoires that might not otherwise show up on their radar. Recent social unrest and the restrictions of the COVID-19 Pandemic inspired several initiatives: Debra was a leader in reconceiving Les Délices’ concerts for the virtual space and created a webseries variety show for early music called SalonEra. Critics called the concerts “sensational,” and “a cultural gift” while SalonEra opened a world of music to audiences at home. Produced remotely, SalonEra brings together regular contributors and special guests whose personalities, perspectives, and contributions set the stage for fascinating conversations and fulfilling artistic exchange. Since Sept 2020, SalonEra premiered 29 original episodes, 80 remote musical collaborations, and created feature opportunities and paid micro-engagements for over 60 artists. In 2022-23, SalonEra anticipates producing 6 new video episodes and will launch a companion audio podcast. Les Délices’ other outreach initiatives include Early Music Explorations (a video enrichment series for students in grades 3-7) and Music Meditations (a podcast and telephone hotline combining archival performances, poetry, and prompts for guided listening). Visit www.salonera.org and www.lesdelices.org/outreach to learn more.

Past Recipients