2009 Bridging Divides Award

Three Music Notables To Receive Awards from The University of Texas Project on Conflict Resolution

The 2009 Bridging Divides Award will be presented by the University of Texas Project on Conflict Resolution (UTPCR) to Cyril Neville, Harold McMillan, and Clifford Antone (posthumously) in a ceremony on October 15, 2009 at Antone’s Nightclub.  This prestigious award spotlights individuals who have made significant contributions to society by building bridges between groups and cultures. The award honors the creative ability of artists to combine styles and approaches in a way that benefits society or helps humanitarian causes. Willie Nelson was the first Bridging Divides Award recipient in 2007 and its inspiration. The award is now presented to several individuals each year.

Antone, who passed away in 2006, was known for his work with numerous social and educational organizations, most notably his "Help Clifford Help Kids" project for American YouthWorks. He loved teaching music history at UT in his final years.  He is best known for his namesake internationally recognized blues club in Austin where he fostered interracial collaborations between established artists and musicians, young and old.

McMillan is a tireless artist, historian, producer and musician, devoted to traditions derived from African American culture and other forms of artistic expression outside the classical European tradition. As director of DiverseArts and founder of the Austin Blues Family Tree Project, he has preserved the stories of dozens of African American musicians with direct links to the historical East End Entertainment District. His work allows modern ears to directly hear first-person accounts of how the blues, and the heyday of Black East Austin's entertainment district, contribute to modern experience.

Cyril Neville is recognized for his contributions to Katrina victims and to preserving the New Orleans sound while blending it with the Austin sound through Project Chumbo. Driven from New Orleans by the flooding, Neville made his way to Austin where he joined in efforts to help the people back home and those who brought their Louisiana gumbo to mix permanently with Austin’s chili. Long involved in humanitarian causes and programs reaching out to children, Neville overlooked his own personal hardships to help create a bridge over the waters for others. 

UTPCR Director and founder Dr. Madeline Maxwell said, “There could be no better awardees than Clifford Antone, Harold McMillan, and Cyril Neville. We feel privileged to honor them. All of them have inspired generations already and they have helped countless people they know about and others they will never know. We honor the memory of Clifford, who was an early supporter of UTPCR, and salute Harold McMillan, who worked with our teen summer symposium, and Cyril Neville.”

UTPCR is a university organization dedicated to facilitating the study and practice of peace initiatives and successful conflict resolution in contemporary culture.

The UT Willie Nelson Center students organization will help celebrate the honorees at a ceremony at Antone’s, 213 W 5th St. with performances by Gary Clark, Jr., Eve Monsees, Pamela Hart, James Robinson, Cyril Neville, Big Chief Kevin and more. $10 at the door.

Contacts:
Madeline Maxwell
(512) 471-1954
or
Erin Geisler
(512) 475-8071

Photographed by: Brian Birzer 
 www.birzerphoto.com