JoAnn Falletta. Photo by Steve J. Sherman.
MOLA, the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association, has presented its 2023 Eroica Award for Outstanding Service to Music to American conductor JoAnn Falletta. MOLA is the professional association for music performance librarians, who acquire, prepare, catalogue, and maintain music for their institutions. In a video message shown earlier this week at the 41st annual MOLA conference in Berlin, Falletta spoke of her respect and gratitude for performance librarians: “I think that many of you know how much I admire MOLA and the work that you do—how much I admire your scholarship, your wisdom, your understanding of music, your support and appreciation of each other, and your incredible patience with all of us.” Falletta thanked several librarians by name and acknowledged the important role they play in the performing arts ecosystem. The Eroica Award for Outstanding Service to Music recognizes an individual (or group of individuals) who inspires MOLA with their advocacy for the art form, artistic excellence, and/or leadership. MOLA encourages nominations for those who champion underrepresented works or composers, mentor young musicians, bridge communities, or break new ground. Falletta is music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and has served as music director and guest conductor for multiple American orchestras.
