Albany Symphony earns first-place ASCAP award for Adventurous Programming
Published:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: June 9, 2011
Contact: Jim Sector
Director of Marketing & Communications
Phone (518) 465-4755
Fax (518) 465-3711
Albany Symphony
19 Clinton Ave.
Albany, NY 12207
Albany Symphony earns first-place ASCAP award for Adventurous Programming
Orchestra has won this award more than any other orchestra in the country The Albany Symphony is one of 26 American orchestras to be honored with a 2010-2011 ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming today at the League of American Orchestras Annual Meeting at its 66th National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Albany Symphony was selected as a first-place award-winner for the award because it featured the works of such contemporary composers as John Corigliano*, George Tsontakis**, and Derek Bermel* (all of whom were in residence) throughout its 2010-2011 season: the 80th season for the orchestra. The League and ASCAP present the awards each year to orchestras of all sizes for programs that challenge the audience, build the repertoire, and increase interest in music of our time. More than a million dollars have been bestowed on orchestras since the awards were established in 1947.
The Albany Symphony is one of this region’s most revered music and cultural institutions, having won numerous national awards for its adventurous concert programming, recording projects, composer residencies, and innovative educational efforts involving area schools throughout the region, including more ASCAP awards for adventurous programming than any other orchestra in the country. As the only professional symphony orchestra based within the Capital Region, the Albany Symphony enriches a broad and diverse regional community, engaging over 150,000 people each year across an extended geographical area. In May 2010, Elliot Forrest of NPR proclaimed the Albany Symphony as “a world class orchestra” after its debut performance at Carnegie Hall – where the orchestra was honored for its creative programming as part of the first-ever Spring for Music Festival.
The orchestra’s 2011-2012 season begins in September 2011, including highlights such as the popular violinist Joshua Bell, composers Aaron Jay Kernis and George Tsontakis, and favorites by composers such Beethoven, Stravinsky, Holst, and more. For more information, visit www.albanysymphony.com.
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 410,000 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
League of American Orchestras
The League of American Orchestras leads, supports, and champions America’s orchestras and the vitality of the music they perform. Its diverse membership of nearly 900 orchestras across North America runs the gamut from world-renowned symphonies to community groups, from summer festivals to student and youth ensembles. The only national organization dedicated solely to the orchestral experience, the League is a nexus of knowledge and innovation, advocacy, and leadership advancement for managers, musicians, volunteers, and boards. Its conferences and events, award-winning Symphony magazine, website, and other publications inform music lovers around the world about orchestral activity and developments. Founded in 1942 and chartered by Congress in 1962, the League links a national network of thousands of instrumentalists, conductors, managers and administrators, board members, volunteers, and business partners. Visit americanorchestras.org to learn more.
* In residence with the orchestra this year through the Albany Symphony’s Composer to Center Stage Program, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
** The Residency of George Tsontakis is made possible through Music Alive, a residency program of the League of American Orchestras and Meet The Composer. This national program is designed to provide orchestras with resources and tools to support their presentation of new music to the public and build support for new music within their institutions. Funding for Music Alive is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and The ASCAP Foundation Joseph & Rosalie Meyer Fund.
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