USC's Southern Exposure wins national award

Dr. John Fitz Rogers

Contributed by USC

The USC School of Music's innovative new music series, Southern Exposure, has won the 2007 Chamber Music America/American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Award for Adventurous Programming.

USC music professor Dr. John Fitz Rogers will accept the award at the Chamber Music America's annual convention to be held Jan. 13 in New York City. Fitz Rogers launched the new music series in March 2001.

"This distinction reflects the creativity of our guest artists, support of our administration, faculty and students, the generosity of donors and our adventurous audience whose energy and enthusiasm have been noted by every guest artist," said Fitz Rogers.

Southern Exposure concerts feature professional artists and ensembles and USC faculty and students who perform recent music and classical compositions from the past century. Since its inception, the series has become one of the School of Music's most popular offerings.

Dean Tayloe Harding of the School of Music will join Rogers to accept the award.

'Adventurous' captures the spirit of this great series of new music founded by John Fitz Rogers and everyone who has made it possible," said Harding. "Southern Exposure embodies the School of Music's mission to provide programs that inspire and entertain audiences in South Carolina and beyond that provide dynamic learning and performance opportunities for our students, as they strive for the highest ideals of professional musicianship."

ASCAP is one of the largest professional music associations in the United States, with some 260,000 composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers. Founded in 1914, ASCAP recognizes musical achievement and fosters creativity and musical innovation. Its roster of artists range from Duke Ellington and Aaron Copland to Stevie Wonder, Alan Jackson, and Beyonce.

The next installment of Southern Exposure will be Feb.1, featuring guest performer Michael Nicolella, a classical guitarist from Seattle, Wash., and Paul Lansky, a composition professor at Princeton University. "Exposed Wiring III" will be at 7:30 p.m. in the School of Music recital hall. It is free.