The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an honorary society of America's most notable artists, writers, and composers. Founded in 1904 as an off-shoot of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, which had been founded six years earlier, the Academy merged with the Institute in 1976. Membership is limited to 250 native or naturalized U.S. citizens, of which 50 are elected to the Academy for exceptional achievements in art, literature, or music. The Academy-Institute also has an honorary membership of 75 foreign artists, writers, and composers. Membership in the Academy is considered the highest formal recognition of artistic merit in the United States. The Academy-Institute is located in New York, NY, and has a museum and a library, and holds exhibitions of works of art, manuscripts, books, and scores.

Margaret Brouwer has been awarded a 2006 Academy Award in Music from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.  The annual prizes, of $7500 , are awarded to four composers of exceptional accomplishment.   In addition to the $7500 check, the Academy includes another $7500 toward a recording of one of the composer's works, bringing the total award to $15000. The award will be presented at their annual Ceremonial which will take place on May 17, 2006.