Golden State orchestras shine

Signaling their increasing importance in contemporary music, California orchestras dominated the 2004-05 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers/American Symphony Orchestra League Awards for Adventurous Programming, announced this month in Washington, D.C. Ensembles from the state took honors in all but two of the eight categories for programming contemporary music, for a total of seven awards.

“We’re thrilled that so many of California’s wonderful orchestras have been selected as recipients of this year’s ASCAP awards for adventurous programming,” said Henry Fogel, president and CEO of the American Symphony Orchestra League. “There are some very exciting things happening artistically on the West Coast, and it’s great to see the music of our time so warmly embraced there. We’re looking forward to holding our national conference in Los Angeles next spring -- and to tapping into the innovative spirit found there.”

Among large orchestras (annual budgets of more than $13.8 million), the San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas and the Los Angeles Philharmonic led by Esa-Pekka Salonen took first and second place, respectively.

Orange County’s Pacific Symphony, led by Carl St.Clair, won third place among orchestras with $5.2-million to $13.8- million budgets. The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and music director Jeffrey Kahane took first place among orchestras with $1.7-million to $5.2-million budgets. The Berkeley Symphony led by Kent Nagano won third place among orchestras with budgets between $450,000 and $1.7 million. And the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, led by Barbara Day Turner, took second place among orchestras operating on $450,000 annually or less.

Only in the collegiate and youth orchestras categories did California fail to make a showing. But the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music under Marin Alsop’s direction won first place for festival orchestras.

-- Chris Pasles