The Lewis Prize for Music

From 2019 to 2024, The Lewis Prize for Music invested $20 million across the United States and its territories to support young people through the Creative Youth Development (CYD) music field. Co-founded by philanthropist Daniel R. Lewis and CEO Dalouge Smith, The Lewis Prize for Music was guided by the belief that every young person deserves equitable access to music and the arts.

With input and wisdom from hundreds of people, including young adult leaders from CYD programs, The Lewis Prize for Music partnered with over 80 nonprofit organizations nationwide to reimagine opportunities for youth to thrive, lead, and shape the future.

Through awards, research, media coverage, and collaborative projects, the Lewis Prize for Music supported programs that combine music opportunities with vital well-being resources such as mental health support, workforce training, academic guidance, and meals and housing. In this holistic way, CYD organizations place youth leadership and artistry at the forefront of community transformation.

Interlochen Center for the Arts is proud to steward the Lewis Prize for Music archive and website. We celebrate the incredible Creative Youth Development field, which continues to create lasting change in the lives of young people.

Visit The Lewis Prize for Music website to meet its awardees and access research reports, videos, and articles that showcase the power and impact of Creative Youth Development. For additional information, please contact Elizabeth Nelson, Director of Libraries and Archives, Interlochen Center for the Arts.