KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Gilmore has given its inaugural 2026 Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award to pianist Sullivan Fortner.
He was awarded the largest single gift ever dedicated solely to a jazz artist at a special ceremony Wednesday at The Jerome L. Greene Space in New York City and received $300,000 over the next four years.
The award is named for Bell’s Brewery founder Larry Bell and The Gilmore started the Jazz Awards program in 2022 with an $8.8 million gift. The Bell Artist and Bell Young Artist Awards are presented every four years.
The 2026 Bell Young Artists Awardees were announced last month, and Tyler Bullock and Esteban Castro each received $25,000.
The Gilmore remains based in Kalamazoo, and Fortner will perform two programs at the 2026 Gilmore Piano Festival, scheduled to be held April 30th through May 10th, 2026 in Kalamazoo.
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