George Rochberg Photo courtesy of the Theodore Presser Company

The Fourth annual ASCAP Foundation Awards and Scholarships Reception was recently held in New York City. ASCAP president Marilyn Bergman hosted the event, which presented honors to a wide variety of Award, Scholarship, Fellowship and Residency recipients. One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award to Broadway Composer Charles Strouse for his lifetime achievements in the American musical theater. Strouse is the composer of such Broadway classics as Bye Bye Birdie; Golden Boy; Applause, It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman; and Annie. The first ASCAP Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of concert music was presented to veteran composer George Rochberg, a leading figure in American contemporary music for over 50 years. Performances of two Charles Strouse songs by TV star Malcolm Gets (Caroline in the City) and Broadway leading lady Judy Kuhn respectively, were featured, as well as a performance of a work by Rochberg performed by cellist Fred Sherry and pianist Margaret Kampmeier. A complete list of recipients follows:

Special guest presenters included Kitty Carlisle Hart, composer John Corigliano, Lincoln Center Chairman Emeritus Martin E. Segal and composer Mary Rodgers, daughter of Richard Rodgers.