Four U of M Music Professors Win ASCAP Awards
For release: September 3, 2003
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers has chosen four University of Memphis music faculty members as recipients of its ASCAP Award this year. ASCAP recognized Jack Cooper, Kamran Ince, Shirley McRae and James Richens for the number of their works published and performed.

Cooper has a wide range of experience as a performer, composer and educator. As a saxophone and woodwind performer and staff arranger, he served with the U.S. Army Jazz Knights from 1989-95. His compositions have been performed or recorded by such artists as the Woody Herman Orchestra, Doc Severinsen, the U.S. Navy Commodores and the Summit Jazz Orchestra. Cooper has served as staff arranger and clinician for Warner Brothers Publications since 1992. He is musical director and founder of the Jazz Orchestra of the Delta.

Symphonies across the United States and Europe, including the Chicago Symphony, have performed the works of Ince, a professor of music. Among his recent works are Symphony No. 4 "Sardis," inspired by the ancient Anatolian civilization; "one for eight," a work commissioned for the Amsterdam-based cello octet Conjunto Iberico; "FEST" for orchestra and new music ensemble; and "Academica," commissioned by Istanbul Technical University in honor of its 225th Anniversary.

Professor emeritus McRae has retired, but continues to teach part time. She has taught music theory and education as well as sacred music. McRae has written numerous vocal compositions for adults and children, and is in demand to conduct children's choirs across the nation.

Richens is a professor of music and composer/arranger in residence for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He has arranged much of the music the MSO performs at its pops concerts, including works by Elvis Presley. Richens has received commissions to write ballets, chamber music and electronic scores for television and concert band. Numerous orchestras in the United States, Europe, South Africa and Canada perform his music.

The cash awards are based on the value of each writer's catalog of original compositions and arrangements, as well as recent performances of those works in areas not surveyed by ASCAP. The awards were established to encourage writers of serious music.

More News Releases