Guitarist Mary Halvorson Among 2019 MacArthur Fellows

By DownBeat I Sep. 25, 2019

Exploratory guitarist Mary Halvorson is among the 2019 MacArthur Foundation fellows.
(Photo: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation)

The MacArthur Foundation announced its 2019 fellows today, and among them is guitarist Mary Halvorson.

New York-based Halvorson is set to receive a “no strings attached” $625,000 stipend from the nonprofit organization, which aims to “encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations” in various artistic disciplines, the sciences and other fields.

“I always thought I’d study science,” said the guitarist—who’s been issuing recordings with a cast of characters that includes bassist Michael Formanek, violinist Jessica Pavone, drummer Tom Rainey and pianist Sylvie Courvoisier for more than a decade—in a video posted to the MacArthur website. She goes on to say that the most engaging aspect of her work—whether performing or writing—is the exploratory trail-and-error gambit.

Halvorson also mentions the Thumbscrew project, various ensembles she works in, as well as Code Girl, a group she heads that includes vocalist Amirtha Kidambi. Halvorson said there is a second Code Girl recording in the offing, too.

For more information about the guitarist’s work, as well as upcoming tour dates, visit her website. DB