April 30th, 2026 — Cellist, composer, and bandleader Tomeka Reid (CRF 2023) has been named a recipient of the 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award, one of the United States’ most significant honors for individual performing artists. Presented annually by the Doris Duke Foundation, the award recognizes artists working at the forefront of dance, jazz, and theater, and provides long-term unrestricted support to sustain their creative practices.
Reid is one of six artists selected for the 2026 awards and one of three honorees recognized in jazz and improvised music. The award includes $525,000 in unrestricted funding distributed over seven years, along with professional development support, financial planning resources, and networking opportunities designed to support artists’ long-term creative and personal sustainability.
The Doris Duke Foundation praised Reid as “an American cellist, composer, improviser, and bandleader, who has redefined the role of the cello in contemporary jazz.” Her work bridges classical traditions and avant-garde improvisation, expanding the expressive possibilities of the instrument through fearless experimentation and collaborative practice.
Over the past decade, Reid has become one of the most vital voices in contemporary creative music, known for projects ranging from the Tomeka Reid Quartet to collaborations with artists across jazz, experimental, and improvised music communities. A 2022 MacArthur Fellow and 2021 United States Artists Fellow, she continues to shape the landscape of contemporary music through performances, recordings, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Complimenti, Tomeka!