Notations SPRING 2016 ISSUE Paul Williams hosts The ASCAP Foundation Awards Ceremony On December 9th, The ASCAP Foundation honored per- former, songwriter and producer Richard Marx with its Champion Award in recognition of his commitment to vital causes to make a better world. The multifaceted Joel Grey received the George M. Cohan/Friars Foun- dation Award. These accolades were presented during the Foundation’s 20th Annual Awards Ceremony held at the Appel Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams and Executive Director Colleen McDonough hosted the event which also honored a wide variety of scholarship and award recipients, all of whom benefit from ASCAP Foundation programs. Several of the recipients performed including: Felicia Collins, Matt Gould & Griffin Matthews with cast members from their show Invisible Thread, Maisy Kay, Watson Lark, Pascal , and . For photos Mariana Williams, ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, Champion Award recipient Richard Marx & LeBoeuf Richard Marx Alastair Moock ASCAP Foundation Executive Director, Colleen McDonough of the event, please see pages 4 and 5. Jerry Herman: The Broadway Legacy Concert Series & Education Program The ASCAP Foundation has launched a na- ASCAP Foundation Jerry Herman Broadway tionwide series of musical theater concerts Legacy Prize. Recipients are local high school and educational programs made possible by and university students chosen from a musical revered ASCAP member Jerry Herman. Her- theater performing master class held in each man is best-known as the composer/lyricist of touring city and hosted by the Broadway per- Pictured at the Naples, FL concert are (l-r):-front row: the iconic musicals Hello, Dolly!, Mame and formers. Master class students are invited to Scott Coulter, Jerry Herman, Klea Blackhurst, Jerry Her- man Broadway Legacy Prize awardee Marcella Brown. La Cage aux Folles. Entitled Jerry Herman: audition with a Jerry Herman song and two Back row: Jerry Herman Broadway Legacy Prize awardee The Broadway Legacy Concert, each perfor- are selected to perform in the concert for Jacob Hartman, pianist John Boswell, Jason Graae, Deb- mance features a full symphony orchestra and each city and receive the Herman Broadway bie Gravite, ASCAP’s Michael Kerker & ASCAP Foundation Executive Director Colleen McDonough star Broadway performers Klea Blackhurst, Legacy Prize. Scott Coulter, Jason Graae, Debbie Gravite Songs from Jerry Herman musicals (Hel- Philharmonic at Artis Naples in Naples, Flor- and Ron Raines. The series debuted in Octo- lo, Dolly!; Mame; La Cage aux Folles; Milk ida; the Milwaukee Symphony at the Marcus ber 2015 in Tulsa, Oklahoma with the Signa- and Honey; Dear World; The Grand Tour; and Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and the ture Symphony. Mack and Mabel) are featured in the program. Phoenix Symphony at the Orpheum Theater In addition to the concerts, Jerry Her- In addition to Tulsa, concerts and scholarship in Phoenix, Arizona. Dates for the 2016/17 sea- man has established a new scholarship – The programs have taken place with the Naples son will be announced soon. • ASCAP Foundation Awards • New Awards & Scholarships Announced IN THIS • Jerry Herman Program • Awards Ceremony Photos • Kennedy Center Showcase • Donor Honor Roll ISSUE • Musical Theatre Songwriting Workshop • Morton Gould Young Composers • Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards • Legacy Society 1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023 | 212-621-6219 | [email protected] | www.ascapfoundation.org | @ascapfoundation Songwriters: The Next Generation Showcases Artists’ Original Work at The Kennedy Center Songwriters: The Next Generation, a pro- Albert Behar gram of The ASCAP Foundation and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Perform- ing Arts, showcased the work of four emerging songwriters and composers on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage on March 23 and 24, 2016. The program featured the original works of ASCAP members: Albert Behar, Colleen Clark, Chaz Langley and Alastair Moock. Each evening’s hour-long program is designed to spotlight the talent of young song- Colleen Clark writers and composers, and is hosted by ASCAP singer/songwriter and arts en- tertainment producer Larry Groce who Alastair Moock is also one of the founders of Mountain Stage, a live music program on NPR. The concerts and Q&A with the artists are made possible by the Bart Howard Es- tate. They are webcast live and archived Chaz Langley for viewing at www.kennedy-center.org/ programs/millennium/archive.html. Getting Ready for Their Broadway Debut Students from the Professional Performing Arts High School in New York City participated in the 2015 ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Songwriting Workshop taught by ASCAP writers Michael Kooman and Chris Dimond. The workshop, a 15-week intensive on the art of musical theatre songwriting, affords the students the opportunity to learn to create original songs. At the end of the workshop, the students’ songs were presented at a show- case performed by professional Broadway stars. ASCAP members Michael Kooman and Chris Dimond, “I learned a lot about certain aspects of songwriting that can help me as a (at opposite ends of the 2nd row) with their students from The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Work- performer as well as a writer. I learned a lot about certain habits I have, shop at the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City. good and bad, and how to fix the bad.” — Gillian, age 16 2 2016 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awardees Announced We are honored to partner with the Herb Alpert Foundation in this significant ongoing endeavor.” The ASCAP composer/judges for the 2016 competition were: Mark Feldman, Gregor Huebner, Oscar Perez, and Rufus Reid. The 2016 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award recip- ients are: David Bernot, 21, Paul Bloom, 22, Mario Castro, 27, Michael Conrad, 27, Roxy Coss, 29. Natalie Dietz, 29, Lukas Gabric, 28, Joshua Green, 28, Dave Hassell, 27, Taylor Herron, 24, Gene Knific, 23, Jodie Landau, 23, Remy Le Boeuf, 29, Roos (l-r) ASCAP’s Michael Spudic, Rufus Reid, ASCAP Foundation Executive Director, Plaatsman, 28, Jonathan Saraga, 28, Jeremy Siskind, 29, and Colleen McDonough, Mark Feldman, Oscar Perez and ASCAP’s Adrian Ross. Christopher Zuar, 28. The youngest winners: Emily Bear, 14, and Front row: ASCAP’s Cia Toscanini. Not pictured Gregor Huebner. Esteban Castro, 13. ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams has announced Composers receiving Honorable Mention this year: Andrew D. the recipients of the 2016 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Herring, 19, Andrew Karboski, 21, Josh Shpak, age 22, Alexander Awards. Established in 2002 to encourage gifted jazz composers Weitz, 24 and Matthew Whitaker, age 14. up to the age of 30, the program carries the name of the great Additional funding for this program is provided by The trumpeter and ASCAP member Herb Alpert in recognition of ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund. The Herb Alpert Foundation’s multi-year financial commitment to support this unique program. The recipients, who receive cash About The Herb Alpert Foundation awards, range in age from 13 to 30, and are selected through a The Herb Alpert Foundation, a non-profit, private foundation es- juried national competition. tablished in the early 1980’s, makes significant annual contribu- Commenting on the awards, Paul Williams said, “We con- tions to a range of programs in the fields of Arts, Arts Education gratulate the recipients of our Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer and Compassion and Well Being. Its funding is directed toward Awards. The incredible level of creativity and sophistication of projects in which Herb and Lani Alpert and Foundation President the submitted works is a great sign for jazz. We commend our Rona Sebastian play an active role. [The Foundation does not ac- dedicated panel of ASCAP composers who selected the winners. cept unsolicited proposals.] New Award Established Announcing The Honoring Fred Ho ASCAP Foundation To honor the memory and legacy of revo- Chein García Alonso Mayer Rob credit: photo lutionary Chinese American baritone saxophon- Scholarship ist, composer, band leader, producer, writer and activist Fred Ho, The ASCAP Foundation is The family of Chein Garcia Alon- pleased to announce the establishment of The so (1953-2014) has established The Fred Ho ASCAP Foundation Fred Ho Award. The Award Chein García Alonso ASCAP Foundation Chein Garcia will be presented to innovative emerging composers whose work, in Alonso Scholarship to honor the multi-talented songwriter. the spirit of Fred Ho, defies boundaries and genres. Born in Havana, Cuba, García Alonso immigrated to Fred Ho (1957-2014) was well-known for his work in African the United States in 1968 and resided in Newark, New American music and was part of the Asian American and avant-garde Jersey. He had a successful career as a songwriter in both jazz movements. During his nearly three decade career, he helped Spanish and English, having his songs recorded by artists innovate a new American multicultural music. His works have been such as Michael Jackson, Lara Fabian, Boyz II Men, Rocío featured at Tanglewood, Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim Museum, Jurado, Santana, Willie Chirino, Alicia Keys and many the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the San Francisco Jazz Festival more. His song “Experiencia Religiosa” appeared on En- among many other distinguished presenters and venues. He received rique Iglesias’s self-titled debut album, which won the 1996 awards, fellowships and honors from the National Endowment for the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album. The song also hit Arts for Opera-Musical Theater and Jazz Composition, a Guggen- #1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart. García Alonso heim Fellowship, Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships, the Harvard released his own work as a singer/songwriter in 2010 titled Arts Medal, Chamber Music America, New York Foundation for the Nace Una Canción. He won eight ASCAP Awards through- Arts and the Duke Ellington Distinguished Artists Lifetime Achieve- out his career.