New York, NY, June 15, 2009: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) joined Chorus America in honoring four choral ensembles for their adventurous programming during the 2008-2009 Concert Season, at a special Awards Presentation held on Saturday, June 13 at Chorus America's 32nd Annual Conference in Philadelphia.
Commenting on the Adventurous Programming Awards,
Frances Richard, ASCAP Vice President and Director of Concert Music said: "The members of ASCAP congratulate those choruses whose past season featured performances of music written by the composers of our time. These choruses not only preserve the great choral music tradition, but assure that it remains vibrant and relevant in the 21st century."
Cia Toscanini, ASCAP Assistant Vice President of Concert Music and Pulitzer Prize winner,
David Lang, presented the awards to members of Chorus America in appreciation for performances of music written within the past 25 years.
The ensembles, who were presented with plaques and cash awards, are:
All Adult Choruses (two awards):
The Crossing, Donald Nally, Conductor
Volti, Robert Geary, Artistic Director
Children/Youth Choruses:
Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir, Robert Geary, Artistic Director
Alice Parker Award: All Choruses:
San Diego Master Chorale, Gary McKercher, Music Director
The ASCAP/Alice Parker Award was established in 2003 to honor legendary ASCAP choral composer and conductor, Alice Parker, in celebration of her 75th year. The award is presented annually to the choral ensemble that expands the mission of the chorus by presenting challenging repertory to its audience in new ways.
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 350,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.
www.ascap.com
