The American composer, Sean Shepherd, has been honored with the 2023 Charles Ives Living Award by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. As a result, he will receive an annual stipend of $100,000 for the next two years. This award, funded from Charles Ives's estate as per the wishes of his widow, Harmony Ives, enables composers to fully dedicate themselves to their artistic pursuits without the usual financial burdens associated with their profession.

Sean Shepherd, a renowned composer, has an impressive portfolio of works commissioned by various prestigious orchestras and radio orchestras worldwide. In April 2023, his composition titled "On a clear day," featuring poetry by Ulla Hahn, had its premiere at Carnegie Hall, performed by conductor Kent Nagano, cellist Jan Vogler, the Hamburgische Staatsorchester, and a choir of young singers from around the world.

Having recently concluded his tenure as the Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow of the Cleveland Orchestra, Sean Shepherd has held significant positions in the world of classical music, including being the first-ever Composer-in-Residence of his hometown orchestra, the Reno Philharmonic, the 2008 Deutsche Bank Fellow at the American Academy in Berlin, and the USA Van Dusen Fellow by the United States Artists. He has also been the recipient of prestigious awards such as the 2009 triennial Benjamin H. Danks Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the 2005 international Lutoslawski Award.

The 2023 Charles Ives Living Award was decided by a jury consisting of Augusta Read Thomas, Chen Yi, Martin Bresnick, Anthony Davis, Stephen Hartke, and Jennifer Higdon. Nominations for candidates came from the architect, artist, writer, and composer members of Arts and Letters.

Sean Shepherd expressed his appreciation for the Charles Ives Living Award, emphasizing that it provides him with the invaluable opportunity for creative immersion and work, which he considers a rare and precious honor. He views this award as a mandate, which he fully intends to honor, allowing him to delve deep into his role as a composer.

Augusta Read Thomas, one of Arts and Letters’s Vice-Presidents for Music, praised Shepherd's musical talents, describing him as a naturally musical composer who consistently follows his unique artistic vision. She highlighted the complexity and depth of his musical compositions, such as "On a clear day," which present multi-layered, highly-detailed, and sonically rich landscapes.