Americas Vocal Ensemble Composition Competition Winners

Nelly Vuksic, Music Director of the Americas Vocal Ensemble, has announced the winners of the Ensemble's 1999 Composition Competition. First prize was awarded to Damon Lee for La Exclamacion, second prize to Jonathan David and From Tiny Acorns and third prize for The Tender Affliction by Owen Goldsmith. Honorable mention was given to compositions by Wayland Rogers, Lawrence Moss, Perry Townsend, Bill Ryan, Ken Langer, Paul Ayres, Paul Davies, William Harbinson, and Paul Siskind.

The First Prize winner and other awarded compositions will be programmed during the Americas Vocal Ensemble's 1999-2000 season of concerts at Manhattan's Americas Society, and throughout the New York area.

Information from www.jamesarts.com

and information previously published here (and there) ...

Strange but true

Edward Elgar's moustache is to be used in the fight against crime: his portrait is being reproduced on twenty pound British bank notes to foil would-be counterfeiters because of the difficulty of accurately reproducing the moustache. There is now an exciting new dimension to life for those fully equipped with unruly moustaches and willing to offer their services to other countries.

Beethoven reconstruction

Pierluigi Destro, who guest-conducts the Moldova RadioTelevision Symphony Orchestra, now has his reconstruction of an early 19th century arranger's work of rescoring Beethoven's 7th Symphony for two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, double bassoon, and two horns available in print from the publisher Ut Orpheus (Bologna).

St Paul section leaders

The Cathedral Choir of St. Paul (USA) is looking for Alto, Tenor and Bass Section Leaders to work Sept-May for $3200 per year. Info from the Director of Music on +1 651 228 1766.

Satellite Opera

A new satellite channel is to broadcast opera across Europe, every evening for six hours. David Frost and Franco Zeffirelli are responsible for the new venture - a result of Frost interviewing Zeffirelli for a TV show!

Internet Music Delivery Deal

In the fast-changing world of internet music licencing, a deal has been announced between ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and mp3.com (an online distributor of music in MP3 format). Musicians whose work is featured at mp3.com will be allowed to join ASCAP for a $10 membership fee, in order to receive royalty payments when their music is downloaded or purchased on CD. A reciprocal deal will allow mp3.com to offer downloads of music by songwriters and composers already represented by ASCAP online.

Completely Copland

The centenary of Aaron Copland's birth in 2000 will be marked by special events, and Howard Pollack's new biography has anticipated the event by publication in the USA in the last few weeks, although it will not appear in the UK until early next year. The New York Philharmonic has announced a COMPLETELY COPLAND Festival in Lincoln Center to run 27 November to 11 December. Other events to celebrate Copland will be announced later.

Hickox is Elgar President

Richard Hickox was elected president of the Elgar Society at the Society's AGM in Malvern, UK, on 5 June. The post has been vacant since the death of Yehudi Menuhin. Hickox has recorded nearly all Elgar's choral works and is in a good position to promote the future interests of the Society.

Fantasy Quintet

One of our correspondents, Patric Standford has been awarded First Prize in the City of Ostend's International Composers' Competition for his Fantasy Quintet for clarinet and strings - to be heard on July 8 and 11 at the Ostend Conservatoire as part of the 1999 ClarinetFest. Our congratulations go to Patric.

Korean Scholarships

College and high school students are invited to apply for a scholarship to join the Nayhehol International Music Festival and Competition, August 3-22 1999 in Ansong, Korea. The teaching faculty includes four members of the New York Philharmonic and professors from Juilliard. Sponsorship by the government of Kyonggi Province allows the festival to offer a full scholarship to all participants, who only need to pay for their room and board. The application process involves filling in an on-line application form at www.nayhehol.com/applicationform.html and then either sending in a video tape by June 25 or taking a live audition in New York on July 1 or 2. 110 students will be accepted. Full details at www.nayhehol.com .