Tommasini Receives Frederick Fennell Prize

A new work for chamber wind ensemble and soprano recognized for excellence

The third bi-annual ASCAP/CBDNA Frederick Fennell Prize has been awarded to Matthew Tommasini, age 28, for "Three Spanish Songs" for chamber wind ensemble and soprano. The competition, named for Frederick Fennell, ASCAP member and founder of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), was established to encourage gifted American composers to create new works for Concert Band/Wind Ensemble. The winning work receives a $5,000 prize and will be performed during the National CBDNA Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan in March, 2006. In December, it was performed at the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, IL. Tommasini was commissioned to write "Three Spanish Songs" by Michael Haithcock, Director of the University of Michigan Symphony Band. It was premiered in Ann Arbor in 2005. Additional works selected for Honorable Mention by the Jury were Elizabeth Kelly - "Jolt!" for concert band; Eric Nathan - "Nightscape/Daybreak" for solo trumpet and concert band; Baljinder Sekhon II - "Scope" for wind ensemble; and Ben Stonaker - "Pooka" an overture for wind ensemble.