Nine young classical composers, ranging in age from 11 to 26, have been named winners in the 56th Annual BMI Student Composer Awards. BMI Foundation President Ralph N. Jackson and BMI Foundation Advisory Panel member Ellen Taaffe Zwilich announced the decisions of the jury and presented the awards at a reception held May 20 at the Jumeirah Essex House Hotel in New York City.

Dan Visconti has been named the winner of the BMI Foundation‘s 2008 Boudleaux Bryant Commission Award. Visconti was selected for the honor from a pool of recent winners of the BMI Student Composer Awards by members of the Janaki String Trio, who will premiere the work, “Lawless Airs,” at Symphony Space in New York City on May 15, 2008.

The BMI Foundation has named Akiva Zamcheck the recipient of the 3rd Annual Theodora Zavin Memorial Scholarship. The award, given for outstanding achievement in composition, is presented annually to a graduating senior at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art & Performing Arts in New York City.

The BMI Foundation, Inc. has announced that Yale School of Drama student Michael Mitnick has won the 2007 Robert Sherman Scholarship. The $1,000 award is made possible through the generosity of Mary Poppins composer Robert Sherman and is given each year to a talented student composer studying musical theatre.

The BMI Foundation, Inc. presented the 2007 Jerry Bock Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre to lyricist Adam Mathias and composer Brad Alexander August 7 at a luncheon held at the BMI offices. Mathias and Alexander received cash awards as well as commemorative plaques for their musical See Rock City.

Kirsten Volness has been named the winner of the BMI Foundation’s 2nd Annual Women’s Music Commission and will receive $5,000 to create a new work to be premiered by the Colorado Quartet at Symphony Space in New York City in May, 2008.

Samantha Cox and Porfirio Piña have been elected to the Board of Directors of the BMI Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to encouraging the creation, performance and study of music.

The 8th BMI Foundation Jerry Harrington Awards for Creative Excellence were given at a ceremony held on June 11 at the BMI New York offices.

Composers David Fleming and Bryan Senti are the winners of the 19th Annual BMI Foundation Pete Carpenter Fellowships, it was announced by BMI Foundation President Ralph N. Jackson.

Eleven young classical composers ranging in age from 15 to 25 have been named winners in the 55th Annual BMI Student Composer Awards. BMI President and CEO Del R. Bryant announced the decisions of the jury and presented the awards at a reception held May 21 at the Jumeirah Essex House Hotel in New York City.

Emily Shackelton, a 21-year-old Berklee College of Music student, has won first place and a $10,000 scholarship for her song, “Goodbye,” in the 10th Annual John Lennon Scholarship competition.

Ralph N. Jackson, President of the BMI Foundation, Inc., has announced that Daniel F. Díaz is the winner of the 4th Annual peermusic Latin Scholarship, a competition for original Latin songs and instrumental compositions.