The future of music, made here.

Clayton Stephenson ’23 NEC/Harvard Wins 2022 Gilmore Young Artist Award

November 22, 2021

Clayton Stephenson

Stephenson, who studies piano performance and economics in the NEC/Harvard dual-degree program, is one of two recipients of this prestigious award.

Pianist Clayton Stephenson ’23 NEC/Harvard has been named as one of two recipients of the 2022 Gilmore Young Artist Award.

Stephenson and fellow recipient Janice Carissa will each receive a $15,000 stipend to further their musical careers and educational development, as well as $10,000 towards the commissioning of a new piano composition for which the artist will have exclusive performance rights for one year. The pianists will also give solo recitals and orchestral performances during the 2022 Gilmore Piano Festival in Kalamazoo—April 24 through May 15, 2022.

Executive and Artistic Director of The Gilmore, Pierre van der Westhuizen, commented:

“Seeing and hearing Stephenson play immediately reminds you of another element of youth: a sense of wonder. In addition to his technical abilities, he has managed to find his own creative voice early on and to maintain it.”

Stephenson studies economics at Harvard and piano performance at NEC with Wha Kyung Byun.

You can watch the virtual award presentation featuring Stephenson and Carissa in conversation with Jonathan Biss, a 2002 Gilmore Young Artist Award recipient and current Mildred Levinson Piano Artist-in-Residence at NEC, with performances by the recipients.

Read more from the Gilmore

recent news
Songwriter and Harpist Elias Shane ’26 MM, On His Art and (Many) Influences

March 16, 2026

Songwriter and Harpist Elias Shane ’26 MM, On His Art and (Many) Influences

Read More
NEC Prep’s CHIPS Collaborates with Music for Food

March 16, 2026

NEC Prep’s CHIPS Collaborates with Music for Food

Read More
Through Music, NEC student Arson Fahim ’26 Makes Statement of Defiance, Resilience, and Hope

March 9, 2026

Through Music, NEC student Arson Fahim ’26 Makes Statement of Defiance, Resilience, and Hope

Read More
  • Songwriter and Harpist Elias Shane ’26 MM, On His Art and (Many) Influences

    March 16, 2026

    Songwriter and Harpist Elias Shane ’26 MM, On His Art and (Many) Influences

  • NEC Prep’s CHIPS Collaborates with Music for Food

    March 16, 2026

    NEC Prep’s CHIPS Collaborates with Music for Food

  • Through Music, NEC student Arson Fahim ’26 Makes Statement of Defiance, Resilience, and Hope

    March 9, 2026

    Through Music, NEC student Arson Fahim ’26 Makes Statement of Defiance, Resilience, and Hope

  • NEC Faculty Curate Cold Fusion: A Wintertime Apple Music Playlist

    March 6, 2026

    NEC Faculty Curate Cold Fusion: A Wintertime Apple Music Playlist

  • NEC Community Mourns the Passing of Margaret McAllister

    March 2, 2026

    NEC Community Mourns the Passing of Margaret McAllister

  • Expanded Education Department Offers New Contemporary Musical Arts Experiences

    March 2, 2026

    Expanded Education Department Offers New Contemporary Musical Arts Experiences