The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announced the recipients of the 24th annual Sally Ordway Irvine Awards this evening. These prestigious, state-wide awards recognize individuals and institutions whose work has strengthened and enriched the state through their commitment to the arts and arts education.

The awards were awarded in five categories to six individuals and one group:

• Arts Access: May Lee-Yang
• Commitment: Steven Schmidt
• Education: Reverend Carl Walker and Grant West
• Initiative: Kyu-Young Kim
• Vision: Rebecca Moran Cusick & Los Alegres Bailadores

The Sally Awards are named after and continue the legacy of Sally Ordway Irvine, a key fundraiser and donor for the creation of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. After a period of public nominations, awards are made by a committee consisting of Ordway representatives, past Sally Award recipients, Minnesota State Arts Board representatives, media representatives, and other leaders from the Minnesota arts and cultural community. The 24th annual Sally Awards program is also supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board.

A recurrent theme with this year’s awardees was efforts to increase access to new audiences, including breaking down language and economic barriers. In a statement, Ordway President and CEO Jamie Grant summarized this, saying, “When I came to the Twin Cities earlier this year, I was so impressed by the abundance of support this community has for the arts. I’m thrilled that the Ordway is able to recognize and honor leading advocates and organizations that have made a difference in their communities through the arts.”

To submit a nomination for the 25th annual Sally Awards, visit www.ordway.org/sallyawards.

The official summaries of the award recipients follow:

Arts Access Award – May Lee-Yang

May Lee-Yang is a playwright, poet, prose writer and performance artist. Her plays include Hmong-Lao Friendship Play or Lao-Hmong Friendship Play, Confessions of a Lazy Hmong Woman and Ten Reasons Why I’d Be a Bad Porn Star, and have been presented in the Twin Cities as well as nationally. In 2012, her company produced a Hmong-language version of Confessions of a Lazy Hmong Woman to create accessibility for people who spoke little or no English or had never seen theater before. Committed to engaging new voices and artists, she also teaches creative writing and theater to teens and elders.

Commitment Award – Steven Schmidt

For more than 27 years, Steven Schmidt has contributed to the musical landscape of Rochester through his work as general manager of The City of Rochester Music Department/Riverside Concerts (also known as Rochester Civic Music). He conceived and continues to be responsible for managing and curating the Down by the Riverside, Riverside Live! and World Music concert series, the Thursdays on First & Third Summer Market & Music Festival and various educational/outreach, community music and services-to-the-field functions. Through his programming and curation work, Schmidt serves more than 250,000 citizens throughout the year.

Education Award – Reverend Carl Walker and Grant West

The Walker West Music Academy is a Saint Paul-based school that offers music lessons and concerts rooted in the African-American cultural experience. Founded in 1988 by two renowned musicians, Rev. Carl Walker and Grant West, the school is rooted in a commitment to music education for people of all ages and a strong conviction that lives are enriched by music. The Academy’s founders have built an enduring community institution that serves nearly 200 students, both children and adults, each week.

Initiative Award – Kyu-Young Kim

Kyu-Young Kim, artistic director and principal violin of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO), is one of the most versatile and accomplished musicians of his generation. His appointment as the SPCO’s artistic director in 2016 marked the first time a playing member has been tapped to take the artistic helm of a major American orchestra. In his new role, Kim has developed creative musical programming, brought in new guest artists and made the SPCO more accessible to a wider audience. 

Vision Award – Rebecca Moran Cusick & Los Alegres Bailadores

Founded in 1977, Los Alegres Bailadores is a Mexican folkloric dance group based on the West side of Saint Paul. Under the leadership of founder, director and instructor Rebecca Moran Cusick, the group is one of the most established folkloric dance groups in Minnesota that never fails to delight and inspire audiences of all ages. Cusick’s vision to preserve and promote this beautiful art form, as well as use it to

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Basil Considine

Basil Considine was the Editor of the Twin Cities Arts Reader from 2018-2022. He served as Performing Arts Editor and Senior Classical Music and Drama Critic for the Arts Reader's first five years, before succeeding Hanne Appelbaum. He was previously the Resident Classical Music and Drama Critic at the Twin Cities Daily Planet and remains an occasional contributing writer for The Boston Musical Intelligencer and The Chattanoogan. He holds a PhD in Music and Drama from Boston University, an MTS in Sacred Music from the BU School of Theology, and a BA in Music and Theatre from the University of San Diego.

Basil was named one of Musical America's 30 Professionals of the Year in 2017. He was previously the Regional Governor for the National Opera Association's North Central Region and the 2021-2022 U.S. Fulbright Faculty Scholar to Madagascar.

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