STEPPIN' OUT

Gabriela Frank, a 2002 Morton Gould Young Composer Award winner, by Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony to write an orchestra work for the 2005 season. Gaby also has just been named the first winner of the Sackler Music Composition Prize from the University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts.

Joseph Turrin by Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic to write a work for Masur's final concert with the orchestra. The piece entitled Hemispheres premiered in May at Avery Fisher Hall and toured this summer to Germany and Asia with Masur conducting.

Richard Adler's music in an in-the-works Broadway revival of Pajama Game, including two new songs. In addition, a full-scale workshop production of a completely revised Kwamina is in development. In the past four years, composer/lyricist Adler (Damn Yankees) has composed five ballet scores, four of which were world-premiered by the Miami City Ballet, the Chicago Ballet Company, the Dallas/Ft. Worth Ballet and the Arlington Ballet.

Dennis Cheplick's composition, "Ocean Sailing," on the television program, "Rebecca's Garden," broadcast on the cable network HGTV. Cheplick, who specializes in writing instrumentals for 12-sting guitar, recorded the song at Soundtrack Recording Studios in New York City along with six other instrumental tracks.

Chris Hajian's score to Disney's Inspector Gadget 2. The combination orchestral/ techno score was recorded in Sydney, Australia with a 70-piece orchestra. Chris has also completed a score for the HBO documentary, Naked World, the follow-up to Naked States, which Chris Scored two years ago. Both documentaries follow New York Photographer Spencer Tunick on his travels to various locations where he photographs large groups of people posing nude.

John Corigliano's music, performed by the New York Philharmonic, in the HBO documentary In Memoriam: New York City 9/11/01. The documentary, which includes footage from news organizations and nearly 120 amateur photograhers who captured events of that day, also features music of Aaron Copland, Charles Ives and Samuel Barber, recorded especially for the documentary.

David Bailey for being nominated in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards Competition. The grassroots musicians coalition reviewed 102,000 songs and over 7,800 albums in 39 categories. Bailey's song "If I Had Another," was nominated for best traditional folk song and his album, Live, was nominated for best live album.

Kevin Beavers for being named the fifth Young American Composer-in-Residence at the California Symphony. Beavers recently joined the music faculty at the University of Texas at Austin. Past awards include first prize in the Philadelphia Orchestra's Centennial Composition Competition, and the Rudolph Nissim Prize from ASCAP.

Kellee Bradley for winning the 2002 Washington Emerging Artist Award. The award was sponsored by the Northwest Chapter of NARAS, Redhook Brewery and Made in Washington stores. Seattle-based Bradley's new album, I Talk to the Stars, was released in August and is available at Cdbaby.com

Allen Gimbel by his former students with a tribute concert featuring his chamber and solo piano works in Palm Beach, Florida. Gimbel, winner of the Charles Award from the Academy of Arts & Letters and many ASCAP awards now lives in Florida and still lectures and reviews new recordings, although multiple sclerosis has forced his early retirement from University teaching.

Tim Janis for becoming the first independent artist in 5 years to hit #1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart. Janis reached the top of the chart with his National Public Television special companion CD, An American Composer in Concert. Janis has released seven Billboard charting CDs since founding his own label four years ago. His label, Tim Janis Ensemble, was also the first independent label in the Soundscan era to release a #1 Traditional Classical CD with the American Cancer Society all-star benefit CD, Music of Hope.

Daniel Kellogg for being named Young Concert Artists' Composer-in-Residence for 2002-04. In this capacity, he will write commissioned works for two members of the YCA roster. The first of these will be premiered by violinist Nicolas Kendall in his recitals next season at New York's 92nd Street Y and Washington's Kennedy Center. The Young Concert Artists Composer-in-Residence Program was started in 1994 as an initiative of the YCA Alumni Association. Other previous composers-in-residence �- Mason Bates and Kenji Bunch �- are currently on the YCA roster.

Mark Kilstofte for being awarded the prestigious 2002-03 Rome Prize to study in Italy for a year. The Rome Prize is awarded in a variety of fields, including architecture, design, literature, musical composition and medieval studies. Kilstofte is one of just two composers selected for this year's prize.

Indart Music Productions' music for a new game, Tropico, for being named one of the four nominees for "Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition" by The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Indart is known for its music for commercials, film, TV and videos.

Dan Locklair for being named Composer-in-Residence at the Brevard Music Festival 2002. In his post, Locklair oversaw rehearsals and performances of his works, presented two public lectures, taught and presented master classes to the Center's composition students. Selected pieces included Locklair's "Hues for Orchestra" (Three Brief Tone Poems), "Dream Steps" (A Trio for Flute, Viola and Harp) and "Freedom's Gate" (A Fanfare for 2 Antiphonal Brass Quartets and Percussion), among other works.

Lior Navok for receiving the Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund's 2002 Composition Award. Past recipients of the award include Karel Husa, Ned Rorem, Per Norgaard, George Benjamin and others. Composer Lili Boulanger was born in France in 1893 and died at the age of 24 in 1918. In her short life, she made music history by becoming the first woman to win the Prix de Rome. It was in 1913 for her cantata, Faust et Héylèyne.

Andrew Rindfleisch for being a recipient of the 2002 Cleveland Arts Prize in Music. The award was presented at a ceremony on October 15 at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio.

Huang Ruo for winning the 2002 Brian M. Israel Prize. Composer Ruo, a native of China who now lives in New York City, studied at the Juilliard School. His music has been performed in Amsterdam, Montreal, New York, Chicago, Cleveland and many other U.S. cities.

Mary Beth Stone was named a finalist in the 2nd Annual NSAI Songwriting Contest. Her song, "What Would Love Do?," co-written with fellow ASCAP member David Stewart, placed in the top six songs out of approximately 5,000 entries in the contest. This is the second year the co-writers have become finalists in the contest. In 2000, Stone and another ASCAP co-writer, Randi Drucker, placed a song, "She's Got It All," in the top ten finalists for the ASCAP Foundation/Lilith Fair Songwriting Contest.

Francis Mario D'Amico's "Fanfare and Elegy for Orchestra" by the Ocean City Pops Orchestra at the Ocean City Music Pier in Ocean City, New Jersey on September 11, 2002. The work is dedicated to the heroes and victims of 9/11.

Paul Parnes and Billy Taylor's song, "Too Little and Too Late," sung by Dame Cleo Laine, with a big band arrangement by John Dankworth, at the 80th Birthday Celebration of Billy Taylor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Another Parnes' song, "Autumn Rain," was recently featured in Sheet Music Magazine with the caption "Undiscovered Gem." It was originally recorded by the Hi-Lo's.

Esther Miller's song, "Champion of Peace," by Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Choir, under the direction of Audrey Grathwohl. The song was premiered in June at the church in Aquebogue, New York.

Mike A. Simpson with Uvon and the Amazing Blues Wizards at the Monterey Blues Festival for the second year. The band performed on the President's Stage in 2001 and on the Garden Stage this year.

Veruschka's song "I See You" on radio in Hamburg, Germany. Producer/artist Veruschka, the founder of her own BabyGirl Production company and a cousin of songwriter/guitarist Vernon Reid, produces her own music, combining many different styles such as Electronic, R & B, Drum & Bass, Pop and Lounge.

Joseph Curiale's The Music of Life in its world premiere by the Akron Symphony Orchestra on September 14. A piece written in response to 9/11, Curiale's piece embeds chants for peace from a variety of religious leaders.

Ron Foster's Inventing Flight performed by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wright-Patterson's Air Force Band of Flight, directed by Major Alan Sierichs. The concert was performed at the DPO's new concert hall, designed by world renowned architect Cesar Pelli, and featured new commissioned works commemorating the inventive spirit of the Wright Brothers. Foster's work, for orchestra, band and antiphonal brass, was commissioned by the United States Air Force. The concert was a lead-in to recording sessions for the second Dayton Philharmonic CD.

Paul Fowler's Michiyuki (for marimba), performed by Naoko Takada at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theatre in Washington, D.C. on November 17.

Mitch Glickman and Tom Scott's Symphonic Jazz Orchestra at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles. Musical Directors Glickman and Scott lead the 72-member orchestra through its first-ever concert. The evening featured the premiere of two newly commissioned works by Lesa Terry and Tom Scott and a performance of Don Sebesky's "Bela & Bird in B Flat." The new Symphonic Jazz Orchestra is dedicated to combing the passion of jazz with the power of an orchestra through commissioning, performing and recording new symphonic jazz compositions and resurrecting classic pieces from the rich repertoire.

Shawn Persinger's music from "The Young Person's Guide to Free Impovisation and Experimental Music" was premiered at The Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts, in Washington D.C. on August 16th.

Bezad Ranjbaran's "Songs of Eternity" for soprano and orchestra (with text from the Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam) was given its world premiere by the Seattle Symphony, conducted by Gerard Schwarz, on its Gala Opening Night at the Benoroya Hotel on September 14th.

Steven L. Rosenhaus' Violin Concerto (1994) by violinist Florian Mayer, with Miko Kersten conducting the Dresden Sinfonietta, as part of the 16th Dresden Days of Contemporary Music Festival in Dresden, Germany on October 6.

Charles Strouse's Concerto America in its world premiere, performed by the Boston Pops with pianist Jeffrey Biegel and Maestro Keith Lockhart conducting, at Boston's Symphony Hall on June 30. Future performances of the Concerto America will take the work to all 50 states. The piece was written by three-time Tony Award winner Strouse, creator of such Broadway classics as Bye, Bye Birdie, Annie, Golden Boy and Applause. The composer describes the piece as, "a thematic evocation of my fascination with American popular music that reflects the joy and optimism of America." Another new Strouse musical, Marty, based on the classic film, also opened recently in Boston. It is a collaboration with lyricist Lee Adams and librettist Rupert Holmes.

Brooks Allen's debut five-song CD, My Empty House � Songs for Victims of Crime. The album features all original acoustic rock songs with smart lyrics and speaks to people whose lives have been affected by crime. It is available at Cdbaby.com.

Taylor Barton's new album, Dry Land (Green Mirror Music). Barton's fifth CD, co-produced with her husband, former Saturday Night Live bandleader GE Smith, delivers brilliantly crafted songs balanced by strong, melodic grooves and innovative instrumentation. Fellow singer/ songwriter Rodney Crowell says, "Like a girl-next-door's coming of age, with this record, Barton descends the stairs as both sultry sorceress and your best friend's sister. And she writes good songs." Barton has appeared on Bravo's "Broadway's Best," "Conan O'Brien," VH1, "Saturday Night Live," "Mountain Stage" and "World Café."

Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years (Sh-K-Boom Records). This is the original cast recording of a new musical by the Tony Award winning composer/lyricist Brown (Parade). The Off-Broadway musical opened in March of this year and was nominated for 7 Drama Desk Awards, Including Outstanding Musical, Actor, Actress, Music, Lyrics and Orchestration.

Pesach Chaim's album, Jewish Heavy Metal Music (Jewish Heavy Metal Music Productions). Chaim, aka Philip Dolinsky, has created what he calls a new genre of music, which must be heard to be believed. For more info visit www.cdfreedom.com/ pesachchaim.

Steve Pullara has released a new children's album, Spinning Tails: Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band (Cool Beans Music). Songwriter/performer Pullara's fourth album features 12 songs written for the family which bristle with an appealing sense of humor and wonderful way of revealing the amazement to be found in everyday objects. The album has been chosen to be included on Music Choice's "Kids Only" digital TV channel.

Markus James's Nightbird on Firenze Records. James has traveled to Mali, West Africa, three times, where he has recorded with some of West Africa's greatest musicians at the source of the blues. James' blues-influenced songs reflect the connection between Maili's string-based music and the roots of American music. In support of the record, James recently toured with Malian multi-instrumentalist Mamadou Sidibe and kicked off their tour of radio stations with a live segment on "The World," the PRI/BBC syndicated radio show with an estimated audience of 1.5 million. Billboard said "Nightbird is one of the deepest listening experiences that will hit the U.S. market this year."

Kill Henry Sugar's new album, Sell This Place (Surprise Truck Entertainment), featuring 11 songs written by Erik Della Penna. The Village Voice has called the band "Subtly twisted, inspired and wickedly distinctive." Rockpile says that they "span the gap between lounge music and rock and roll."

Darren Lyons Group's new album, Resonator. ASCAP member and drummer Lyons has also finished a Darren Lyons Group DVD that will feature footage of the group over the past 6 years, including live shows, rehearsal footage and CGI work, and will also be recording a quartet featuring vibraphone that will be released on CD.

Glenn Kaiser's Ripley County Blues on Grrr Records. Kaiser, longtime frontman for the Christian rock group, Resurrection Band, is also known for his forays into raw authentic blues music. For his new blues album, Kaiser took his band and producer into rural southern Missouri on the edge of the Mark Twain National Forest and recorded in a large log cabin. The result is a powerful collection of electric and traditional acoustic blues.

Cee Cee Michaela's new CD, Everybody's Talkin' (Driven by a Vision Records). Michaela, better known as Yvonne on the hit UPN comedy "Girlfriends," writes, arranges, produces and performs on this project, which features twelve soul-stirring songs. For more info, visit www.ceeceemichaela.com.

Omniblank's new album, Birth of a Firefly. Omniblank play spectacular hard rock that is gaining considerable attention. They hit #6 on R&R specialty show chart and are a top 5 most requested band at alternative and rock radio.

Kris Orendorff's new album, Kris O. and Friends, on HaHa Records. The album includes 12 original songs written by Orendorff and features 7 guest vocalists.Visit www.cdbaby.com/ kriso for more info.

Shelly Palmer's new television series, "Hotpop!," a half-hour pop culture music and entertainment show, con Starz/Encore's WAM! Network. Composer Palmer created and produced the show with Jim Berman, Greg Kimmelman and Susanne White. It will be seen in dozens of international markets from Europe to Japan and on home video. Palmer is an award-winning composer of music for advertising, film, TV and radio. His accomplishments include composing and producing the music for ABC's hit series "Spin City," for which he received an ASCAP Film and Television Music Award.

Jamie Obstbaum's new album, Area, features six beautiful songs co-written by Obstbaum. Utilizing strings and musical elements from blues, rock, pop and jazz, Obstbaum, formerly of the band Methuselah Jones, weaves her own unique new sound.

Switchback's new album, The Fire That Burns (Waygood Records). The album, recorded by Texas musical legend Lloyd Maines at Kingsize Studios in Chicago, is a sterling album of Americana music drawn from Celtic roots. It is Switchback's fourth album since Marty McCormack and Brian FitzGerald formed the band in 1993.

Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlon's music on the Thoroughly Modern Millie cast recording on RCA Victor Records. The eleven-time nominated Broadway musical with new music by Tesori and new lyrics by Scanlon brings the Jazz Age to life. The new recording features 18 songs, including three songs from the 1967 film starring Julie Andrews, four standards from the 1920s and eleven new compositions by Tesori and Scanlon.

Eric von Schmidt's Living on the Trail (Tomato Music Works). Although Schmidt, who was honored with the 2000 ASCAP Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, has been silenced by cancer of the larynx, he can be heard again on this new, previously unreleased recording. The recording is a "lost" album made in 1971 with the help of Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Geoff and Maria Muldaur and Paul Butterfield.

Jesse Valenzuela's solo album, Tunes Young People Will Enjoy (Gabriel Records). Gin Blossoms' songwriter/guitarist Valenzuela steps out on his own on this superb collection of pop rock songs that showcase his singing, songwriting and guitar playing prowess. Produced by Valenzuela with Michael Vail Blum, some tracks were recorded at Memphis'' famed Ardent Studios. Valenzuela and the Gin Blossoms reunited for a tour this past summer and their classic 90's album, New Miserable Experience, was remastered and re-released. For more info on Jesse, visit www.jessevalenzuela.com.

The Winston's third CD, Coming Through, on Clawd Records, which offers folk/pop musings on life, love and death and features guest appearances by Tim O'Brien, Sally Van Meter and Valerie Vigoda. Visit www.thewinstons.com for more info.

Zoar's Clouds Without Water, a collaborative album, on Middle Pillar Presents. Zoar features Matt Johnson from The The, Jennifer Charles from Elysian Fields, Brendan Perry from Dead Can Dance, cellist Erik Friedlander and author Charles Bowden. All of the artists contributed to this special project started in 1996 by composers Michael Montes and Peter Rundquist. In 1997, Cassandra, Zoar's first CD was released on Philip Glass' label, Point Music. In 2001, Middle Pillar Presents signed Zoar and released their second album In the Bloodlit Dark. Ascap writer Michael Montes, keyboardist and Zoar's main composer has scoredfor several indie directors including Joan Stein's short film, One Day Crossing, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2001. This fall he began work on the score for The Technical Writer, an independent film directed by Scott Saunders and starring Tatum O' Neal.

Live Garner The first-ever live performance DVD of pianist/composer Erroll Garner has been released as Erroll Garner: In Performance by Kultur Video. The DVD (also available in the VHS format) features two complete live sets by the Erroll Garner Trio on the mid-1960s British TV program, "Jazz 625," in glorious black & white and magnificent sound. Garner is featured playing his always-swinging and ever-surprising renditions of numerous classics from the Great American Songbook .

JD "Red" Davis's Sharone Records to a worldwide distribution deal with Southwest Wholesale Records and Tapes for the release of his Gospel CD, A Sinner's Plea. The album, released in September, features inspirational songs written by Davis, an ASCAP writer, performer and publisher.

Danny Federici, keyboardist of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, has signed a representation deal with Brewman Music & Entertainment (BME) to create expanded opportunities as a songwriter and instrumental composer. BME will be coordinating songwriting collaborations for Federici, in addition to pitching his song and master catalogues into recordings, films and television projects.

THE EDITOR
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