The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has announced application details regarding its 2011 Deems Taylor Awards for excellence in coverage of music, an honors program launched in 1967.
Written works published in the U.S. in English during calendar year 2010, including program notes, recording liner notes and on-line publications can be submitted through June 1, 2011, for cash prizes to be announced in autumn 2011. In 2010 Awards were bestowed on JJA member David Hajdu, lapsed members Ashley Kahn and Gene Santoro, and Robin D.G. Kelley for his biography of Thelonious Sphere Monk, among others. A multi-media award was presented for to the Loft Jazz Project as a book, radio series and website.
The only nation-wide honors specifically for music criticism other than the Jazz Journalists Association’s jazz media awards, the Deems Taylor prizes are judged by a small panel of critics and musicians. Application procedures are simple; there is no entrance fee. Complete information is available from Esther SanSaurus, esansaurus@ascap.com, 212 621-6323 — or see guidelines at http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/deems_taylor/index.aspx.
The Awards are named for composer/critic/commentator Deems Taylor, widely remembered for his onscreen narration of Walt Disney’s Fantasia, and a president of ASCAP for six years prior to his death in 1966.
