Cohen named winner of Glenn Gould Prize

TORONTO, April 1 (UPI) -- Canadian singer, songwriter, poet and novelist Leonard Cohen has been named the winner of the ninth Glenn Gould Prize, the presenting foundation said.

The international award, named for the renowned Canadian classical pianist who died in 1982, is presented biennially to an individual who has made "a unique lifetime contribution that has enriched the human condition through the arts, and manifests the values of innovation, inspiration and transformation," the Glenn Gould Foundation said.

"It is a great honor, sweetened by my love of the work of Glenn Gould, and our collective appreciation of his invigorating and enduring presence in the world of music and imagination," Cohen said in a statement Friday.

Cohen will receive a cash prize of $52,000 and the opportunity to choose an outstanding young artist to receive The City of Toronto Glenn Gould Protege Prize of $16,000. Cohen and his protege will be presented with their awards at a gala ceremony in Toronto and their work will be honored through a series of public events later this year.

Jury Chairman Paul Hoffert said Cohen was the panel's unanimous selection.

"His poetry and music transcend national boundaries and cultures by touching our common humanity," Hoffert said. "His unique voice is nonetheless the common voice of people around the globe telling our stories, expressing our emotions, reaching deeply into our psyches. Like Glenn Gould, his work touches audiences far outside his main genre. Hallelujah!"