EYO RETURNS TO ASCAP PROMINENCE WITH TWO AWARDS

For the eighth time in the past eleven years, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and the American Symphony Orchestra League have honored the Etowah Youth Orchestras. Each year the ASOL sponsors the ASCAP Youth Orchestra Awards for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music. Since 1996 the EYO has been recognized seven times as one of the top three youth orchestra programs out of over 200 youth orchestras nationwide.

This year the Etowah Youth Orchestras return to the top three as the recipient of the Second Place 2006 ASCAP Youth Orchestra Award. "The members of the Orchestras and I are absolutely ecstatic! To be recognized by ASCAP and the ASOL eight times since 1996 is a tremendous accomplishment," said Music Director Mike Gagliardo. "It is certainly a testament to the quality of the program here in Etowah County."

But the Youth Orchestra Award is not the only recognition that the EYO has received for this season. For 2006, the EYO is also the recipient of the ASCAP Award for American Programming on Foreign Tours. This award honors the one orchestra out of all categories - professional, collegiate, youth, and festival - that has shown the strongest commitment to the performance of American music on a foreign concert tour. The receipt of this award was based on the EYO's programming for its 2005 England Tour, which included performances of music by Julia Scott Carey, Alan Moss, Ralph Whitfield, Stella Sung, James Woodward, and David Holsinger, among others. "We have been fortunate to receive several ASCAP Awards over the past decade," noted Gagliardo, "but this one may be the most special, as we were selected from all orchestra categories. This is truly a major honor for our program."

The awards will be presented at a special ceremony at the American Symphony Orchestra League's National Conference on June 2 in Los Angeles. Gagliardo will attend the ceremony to accept the awards for the Orchestras. The awards consist of two plaques - one for each category - recognizing the EYO's commitment to new music programming and a $300.00 cash prize. The EYO will be in good company at the awards ceremony - other orchestras receiving awards included the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony.

"It is quite an accomplishment. The quality of the EYO membership is what makes it possible for us to be adventurous in our programming." Gagliardo is quick to point out that it is not just the amount of contemporary music and organization performs that garners the award. "Judging is based not only on the number of contemporary works performed but also on the perceived effectiveness of individual programs in the context of the overall programming of the orchestra's season," reported Michael Lawrence of the ASOL. "Special attention is given to commissioned works and to world, United States, and local premieres."