Stephen Sondheim to receive New York arts honour

Sondheim penned the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy

Award-winning composer Stephen Sondheim is to receive New York City's highest honour for achievement in the arts.

The 81-year-old, who wrote the scores to numerous musicals including Follies and Sweeney Todd, will be awarded the Handel Medallion on 1 November.

The award is given by the City of New York for contribution to the city's intellectual and cultural life.

Previous recipients include Leonard Bernstein, John Lennon and choreographer Merce Cunningham.

Sondheim has won many theatre awards, including an Oscar for best song in 1990 for Sooner or Later from the film Dick Tracy.

Some of his best known works include West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and A Little Night Music.

The Handel Medallion will be presented by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and actor Alec Baldwin at the Mayor's Awards for Arts and Culture ceremony at Alice Tully Hall.

The ceremony will also honour five other figures in the art world for their contributions, including Baryshnikov Arts Center director Mikhail Baryshnikov and artist Maya Lin.

Arts campaigner Alice Diamond, musician Jimmy Heath and the non-profit Theater Development Fund will also be recognised.