Daily Archives: July 22, 2011

Li Kuang, trombone major, wins International Trombone Association Frank Smith Competition

Li Kuang, trombone major and graduating senior, is the winner of the International Trombone Association Frank Smith Competition. Kuang was named a finalist in the competition last spring and performed in the final round at the International Trombone Festival in Nashville on June 22, 2011. As first prize winner, Kuang will receive a custom made S. E. Shires trombone. Li is pictured here with competition judge and previous Frank Smith winner Jeremy Wilson, second trombonists with the Vienna Philharmonic.

The Frank Smith competition began in 1975 and is open to any trombonist twenty-five years and younger. Past winners include many who have gone on to prominent careers in professional orchestras and teaching positions throughout the United States and abroad. Li will begin his master’s degree in Music Performance at the University of Michigan in the fall.

(Submitted by William Mathis)

Benjamin Taylor, MM Composition May 2011, Wins 2011 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award

Benjamin Taylor, MM Composition May 2011 was announced as a recipient of the 2011 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards. This program, established in 2002, was created to encourage gifted jazz composers from throughout the United States. The recipients, who receive cash awards, range in age from 9 to 29, and are selected through a juried national competition.
Commenting on the awards, Paul Williams said, “Jazz is America’s great homegrown musical art form and the accomplished young composers we recognize through this program represent the future of jazz. We congratulate the recipients and extend thanks to the dedicated panel of ASCAP composers who selected the honorees.”

(Submitted by Marilyn Shrude)

Benjamin Taylor, MM Composition May 2011, Wins 59th Annual BMI Student Composer Award

Benjamin Taylor, MM Composition May 2011, was one of eleven winners of the 59th Annual BMI Student Composer Award. The BMI Student Composer Awards recognize superior creative talent and winners receive scholarship grants to be applied toward their musical education. In 2011, more than 500 manuscripts were submitted to the competition from throughout the Western Hemisphere, and all works were judged under pseudonyms. Cash awards totaled $21,000. Ryan Chase and David Hertzberg tied for the William Schuman Prize, which is awarded to the score judged “most outstanding” in the competition. This special prize is given each year in memory of the late William Schuman, who served for 40 years as Chairman, then Chairman Emeritus, of the BMI Student Composer Awards. Additionally, the Carlos Surinach Prize, awarded to the youngest winner in the competition, went to Yeeren I. Low.
The distinguished 2011 jury members were: Robert Beaser, Ingram Marshall, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Steven Stucky and Michael Torke. The preliminary judges were Chester Biscardi, David Leisner, Shafer Mahoney, Sean Shepherd and Bernadette Speach. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich is the permanent Chair of the awards.
BMI has given 554 scholarship grants to young composers over the years. Many of the most prominent and active classical composers in the world today received their first recognition from the BMI Student Composer Awards. The BMI Student Composer Awards competition is co-sponsored by BMI and the BMI Foundation, Inc.
http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/551480

(Submitted by Marilyn Shrude)

Dr. Burton Beerman, Distinguished Professor of the Arts, emeritus, to participate in International North South East West Festival

Dr. Burton Beerman, Distinguished Professor of the Arts, emeritus, was selected to participate in the International North South East West Festival, Hawaii, July 2011. Beerman’s composition GIFTS (for you) was selected to be produced at the International North South East West Festival, held in Hawaii, sponsored by Ebb& Flow Arts, a nonprofit presenter of modern music and multi media events. These events are part of Ebb & Flow Arts’, multi-day, multi-site, Festival. This production represents the world premiere of the composition as originally conceived for interactive theatrical elements of video and narration with original poetry and text by the composer, dance ensemble, scored for piano and violin. The featured artists for the premiere of GIFTS (for you) are internationally renowned performers Winston Choi, piano, Ming-Huan Xu, violin { Duo Diorama}, Tom Van Amburgh, actor/director, Jamy Woodbury and Lisa Buell dancers {Maui Academy of Performing Arts Dance Company}, Peter Swanzy, filmmaker, and Reece Pottorf, photographer. Please click on the link below for further information and dates of performance.

http://hawaiinewsdaily.com/2011/06/multimedia-summer-music-event-at-mauis-seabury-hall/

( Submitted by Celesta Haraszti)