Ischia

The Board of the Ischia Arts Academy today confirmed that Quincy Jones has been named recipient of the 2018 "Ischia William Walton Music Legend Award” in recognition of his monumental contributions to the arts industry throughout a sixty-year career as a world-renowned musician, film producer, entertainment company executive and humanitarian. Jones will accept his award the evening of July 18^th at ceremonies during the 16^th annual Ischia Global Film & Music Festival which runs from July 15^th - 22^nd on this picturesque island off the coast of Naples.

The announcement was made by Festival founder-producer Pascal Vicedomini and 2018 chairperson Cheryl Boone Isaacs. As in past years the Fest will include a week of major film premieres, socially-relevant symposia, music performances, a master acting class and award ceremonies.

Previous ‘Ischia Walton Music Legend Award’ winners include Sting, Burt Bacharach, Harry Belafonte, Mike Stoller, Sir Tim Rice, Julio Iglesias, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti.

Sir William Walton (1902-83), for whom the award is named, made his home on Ischia. He is considered one of the outstanding composers of the 20^th century. He had been considered a composer of the first rank almost since the initial performance of his most famous work, ''Facade,'' in 1923. During a sixty- year career he wrote music in several classical genres and styles from film scores to opera, including music for two coronations: the ''Crown Imperial March'' for King George VI in 1937 and ''Orb and Sceptre'' for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

“The immensity of Quincy Jones’ talent knows no bounds,” said Vicedomini and Isaacs. “A true impresario, throughout the past six decades in the entertainment industry he has built an exceptional, prolific and wide-ranging career in multiple genres including composer, artist, arranger, conductor, record company executive, multi-media entrepreneur, humanitarian and record, film and TV producer. On the music side he has scored a record 79 Grammy nominations, and 27 Grammys, as well as a Grammy Living Legend Award. Therefore, we are truly honored to add the ‘Ischia William Walton Music Legend Award’ to his extensive list of accolades.”

Presented under the auspices of the Ischia Arts Academy, the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest, is sponsored by Mibact-Dg Cinema and the Campania Region, and the municipalities of the Green Island. The Festival is chaired by Boone Isaacs, past president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, with noted Italian filmmaker and company executive Andrea Leone serving as its president. The American producer Mark Canton again chairs the Honorary Board which is comprised of many international entertainment industry notables including Oscar-winners Helen Mirren, Christoph Waltz, Melissa Leo, Jeremy Irons, Alessandro Bertolazzi, and Sandy Powell as well as Taylor Hackford, Bille August, Michael Radford and Lee Daniels, amongst others.

The event’s sister festivals are Capri-Hollywood – The International Film Festival, which takes place each December, and the Los Angeles, Italia Film Fashion and Art Festival, which takes place the week preceding the Academy Awards.

www.ischiaglobal.com