Francisco J. Núñez recognized with a MacArthur Fellowship
Francisco J. Núñez is named a 2011 MacArthur Fellow (known as the “genius grant”) by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for “shaping the future of choral singing for children.” Francisco was one of 23 recipients honored for bringing their “exceptional creativity to diverse people, places, and social challenges” and for their “extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits.”
In a further description of his work, the Foundation wrote: “His vision of young voices from inner-city to elite schools singing new music of the highest quality underpins all that he does. Melding this vision with expertise, passion, and entrepreneurship, Núñez has elevated the youth chorus to the ranks of serious contemporary music, commissioning and performing some of the most challenging works for youth choirs. His belief in the beauty of young voices and his commitment to experimenting with their boundaries and possibilities has allowed him to dramatically expand the expressive capabilities of the youth choir.”