Music prof wins ASCAP honor

1:11 p.m., Oct. 9, 2003--Jennifer Barker, UD assistant professor of music, has won an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Award.

ASCAP gives the award to writers and composers whose work is most often being performed. Since musicians don’t need to get permission or even inform composers when they perform their work, many performances go unnoticed by the author.

ASCAP surveys radio stations, concert halls and other performing venues to identify which composers’ works are being performed most. This is the fourth year in a row Barker has won an ASCAP award.

From Florida to China, ASCAP found at least 22 separate performances of Barker’s work in 2002-03. Since ASCAP can’t monitor every venue 24/7, there are almost certainly performances that go unnoticed.

Originally from Blanefield, Scotland, Barker began her music career as a pianist, and in 1988 began composing. She holds a master’s degree in music composition and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

Earlier this month, Barker’s “Na Tri Peathraichean” was performed as part of the Bach’s Lunch Series in Bayard Sharp Hall. Barker played piano and Laurie Baefsky, piccolo/second flutist with the Virginia Symphony, played the flute.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra in Newark, N.J., is slated to perform Barker’s “Nollaig” in December.

Barker’s first CD, “Nyvaigs,” was released in April 2000 on the CRI label, and she is now recording new compositions for her second CD.

For more information about upcoming performances of Barker’s compositions, or about her CDs, e-mail [jmbarker@udel.edu].

Article By Dean Geddes, AS ‘05

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