The 2009 OUT Music Awards (the first since 2006) were announced at a ceremony in New York on Tuesday, December 8: OUTSTANDING ROCK SONG: Stewed Tomatoes “Leather Daddy” OUTSTANDING POP SONG: Athena Reich “Love is Love” OUTSTANDING HIP HOP/RAP SONG: Jasper James “ROCKET” OUTSTANDING R & B/SOUL SONG: Nhojj “Love” OUTSTANDING ELECTRO/DANCE SONG: Brian Kent “Breathe Life” OUTSTANDING FOLK/COUNTRY SONG: Blair Hansen & Vicci Martinez “Break Away” OUTSTANDING JAZZ SONG: Avi Wisnia “No Scrubs” OUTSTANDING INSTRUMENTAL/SOUNDTRACK...

With five entries in each of more than 100 categories, the nominations for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards (announced on December 2) surely include plenty of gays and lesbians. But scanning the classical nominations, we’ve got: Conductor Marin Alsop’s recording of Bernstein’s Mass nominated for Best Classical Album Guitarist Sharon Isbin’s “Journey to the New World” nominated for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra) Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto (conducted by Alsop) nominated for Best Classical Contemporary Composition Vocalist...

Conrad Cummings’s fourth opera is “The Golden Gate” based on the best selling “novel in verse” by his old friend Vikram Seth.  The action takes place in the early ’80s in San Francisco, which is where the composer and novelist first became acquainted.  Set in two acts with a libretto by the composer, the opera has been in the works since 2006 and, as Conrad discusses on his web site, it’s undergone extensive renovations over the past six months. “(It) reminds me acutely of the romantic adventures of my younger life,” says Conrad. “Boys with...

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Here’s a nicely done article from the New York Times style section on a classical pianist, formerly known as David Buechner, who rebuilt a career after transitioning male to female.  “Anything He Can Do, She Can Do.”

Two upcoming events from gay composer extraordinaire David Del Tredici. His “Magyar Madness” – a klezmer inspired romp for clarinet and string quartet – will have its New York City debut with David Krakauer and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at 5 p.m. on Sunday 10/18 in the shining new Alice Tully Hall. Go to: http://www.chambermusicsociety.org for tickets and more information. Pianist Marc Peloquin will perform an all-DDT program at the Goethe Institute in Boston on Monday, November 2. The concert includes the world premiere of “Aeolian Ballade” as well as...

Though located in Cooperstown, New York, Glimmerglass Opera knows where the money is and therefore throws its best parties in Manhattan. The company’s fall benefit is a celebration of the artistic kinship of Copland and Bernstein.  ”Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein: Their Words, Music and REminiscenes” features Jamie Bernstein and Rosamond Bernier and other guests and takes place Thursday November 12 at the New York Historical Society on West 77th Street. Tickets start at $250.  More information here:http://www.glimmerglass.org/PDF/Fall%20Invite2.pdf

The estate of the late composer/pianist Yvar Mikhashoff has announced its third year of an innovative funding opportunity to encourage collaborations between young composers and pianists. Guidelines available here. Deadline November 16, 2009.

The San Francisco Opera has announced commissions of new operas from Mark Adamo and Jennifer Higdon.  Adamo’s third opera, The Gospel of Mary Magdelene, is slated for June 2013 premiere and will feature the composer’s own libretto.  Higdon will collaborate with writer Gene Scheer for a piece to premiere in fall 2013, though no theme or topic is yet announced.