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MC Music Professor Wins National Award


Mississippi College music professor James S. Sclater has another national award to his growing collection of honors.

The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers, the nation's first and leading U.S. performing rights organization, has honored the MC professor with an award in its concert music division. It keeps his streak alive - of winning similar awards from the group since 1991.

Sclater, an MC music professor since 1970 and composer of 90 works, was chosen by Jo Ann Falletta, conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic and Virginia Symphony orchestras; H. Robert Reynolds, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan, and Steve Smith, classical music critic for "The New York Times."

The latest award for the MC professor and composer "really continues to confirm what we have known for a very long time," said Ron Howard, MC vice president for academic affairs. "James Sclater is a world class composer of the first rank!"

The 65-year-old Mississippian received his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Southern Mississippi and doctorate at the University of Texas. He teaches music theory, orchestration, composition, arranging and applied clarinet at MC. His compositions include songs, operas, solos for piano, woodwind and brass chamber music.

ASCAP members include more than 330,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. The group was established in 1914. It represents the world's largest repertory of more than 8.5 million copyrighted materials works. The group is led by president and chairman of the board Marilyn Bergman.

ASCAP collects royalties on all forms of music over the course of the year. The group's awards program was held in mid-October at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

PHOTO: Sclater