Central Michigan University

A familiar tune: CMU prof wins 11th ASCAP award

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Topics in this story: Arts and entertainment, Arts and events, Awards, College of Communication and Fine Arts, People, School of Music, University news

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Media Contact(s):

Lindsay Allen
989-774-7327

Program Contact(s):

David Gillingham
989-774-1961

For the 11th consecutive year, a prolific Central Michigan University faculty composer has landed a coveted, professional honor.

School of Music Professor David Gillingham has received a 2007 ASCAP Standard Award for Outstanding Achievement in Classical Music from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

The ASCAP Standard Award is given based on how often a composer's pieces are played, how many of a composer's pieces are published, how frequently composers are commissioned to write works, and the quantity and types of awards a composer has received.

In addition to the ASCAP honor, Gillingham recently celebrated another career milestone, having conducted Japan's Osakan Philharmonic Winds in a mid-October concert consisting entirely of his work.

Among Gillingham's other 2007 accomplishments were a spring 2007 sabbatical leave to write his "Symphony No. 2" for band and a double concerto for viola, cello and orchestra; the May premiere of his "Concerto for Horn and Symphonic Band" by the Gower Community Band in Newfoundland, Canada, featuring CMU music faculty member Bruce Bonnell as a soloist; the October premiere of his "Concerto for Viola, Cello and Orchestra" by the CMU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Carlton Woods and featuring soloists and CMU alumnae Holly Attar, viola, and Gillingham's daughter, Amy Gillingham, cello; and the upcoming December premiere of his "Symphony No. 2 - GENESIS" by the Montclair State University Wind Ensemble in New Jersey, conducted by Thomas McCauley.

According to his biography, "Gillingham's works have been recorded by Klavier, Sony, Summit and Centaur. His works are regularly performed by nationally recognized ensembles, including the Prague Radio Orchestra, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Wind Ensemble, The University of Georgia Bands, North Texas University Wind Ensemble, Michigan State University Wind Ensemble, Oklahoma State Wind Ensemble, University of Oklahoma Wind Ensemble, Florida State Wind Ensemble, University of Florida (Miami) Wind Ensemble, University of Illinois Symphonic Band, Illinois State Wind Symphony, University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble, Indiana University Wind Ensemble and the University of Wisconsin Wind Ensemble."

Locally, Gillingham also is known as director of the Mountain Town Singers, an award-winning, all-male barbershop chorus that recently won top honors in its district and will compete in the 2008 International Barbershop Convention competition in Nashville.

For more information about Gillingham, visit http://www.mus.cmich.edu/faculty/david_gillingham.htm or http://www.gillinghammusic.com.