Elizabeth Austin's Wilderness Symphony (#1) was released on Capstone CD; "...and the eagle flies..." was premiered by the Manchester Symphony Orchestra (CT), conducted by Tibor Putztai, in 2/97. Also in February, her CD, Reflected Light: Elizabeth Austin was nominated for a Nashville Music Award; Water Music I "Beside still waters..." (8 vc), commissioned by Mary Lou Rylands, was premiered in 1/97; Sans Souci Suite (Baroque fl, mar) was premiered at The Musical Club of Hartford with Susan Lowenkron and Jason Walker in 1/97.

Al Benner's Little Suite for Solo Violin was premiered by Linda Rose at a NACUSA and The International Congress on Women in Music concert, El Camino College, Torrance (CA) on 2/27/97. The piece was again played by Sara Mezacapa during the 1997 New Music Festival at Viterbo College, La Crosse (WI) on 4/16/97. At the Viterbo Festival, Benner was one of three guest composers and panelists on a "Young Composer's Workshop" on 4/15/97. Ephesians 5:19 was performed by organist Norberto Guinaldo for a NACUSA concert at The United Methodist Church of Garden Grove, Garden Grove (CA) on 3/16/97. To an Unborn Soul was performed by Mary Leavell (fl) and Tom Bishop (pf) during the Wisconsin Alliance of Composers Spring Conference 1997 at the First Unitarian Meeting House, Madison (WI) on 4/26/97; Reflections upon a Windowsill was performed on a LSU New Music Ensemble concert by Sarah Matthys (fl) and Matt Cannon (pf), Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (LA) on 5/1/97; Somewhere Alone (v, pf) by Cindee Rupert and Samantha Wrenshall on a LU New Music Ensemble concert, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario on 4/3/97; Three Preludes (jazz str qt) on a New Music Alberta concert, Muttart Hall, Alberta College, Edmonton, Alberta, by the Strathcona String Quartet 5/10/97. Benner was a participant in the Louisiana Sinfonietta's String Quartet Festival of New Works From Baton Rouge (5/12-18). He was a panelists for the May 17th discussion on "String Quartets in the 20th Century" moderated by Dinos Constantinides. Benner's Three Preludes was one of ten pieces chosen for the Grand Finale concert on 5/18/97. Through a blind judging procedure, the audience selected Three Preludes as the winner of the Audience Choice Award. This is also his fourth consecutive year to receive an ASCAP's Standard Award. Benner has been commissioned by St. Norbert College (De Pere, WI) to compose an alma mater (v/pf; band) in recognition of the college's centennial year.

Jack Behrens's Auf Widorsehen (org) was performed twice by Victoria Henings in London (ON); Concertino for Trombone and Chamber Orchestra by Dale Sorensen and the Windsor Symphony, conducted by Susan Haig; Music for Flute, Bassoon and Piano was performed by Sylvia Kim, Jennifer Jones and Joanne Lee at The University of Western Ontario; Schemata (fl, vn, vc, perc, pf) was performed at the London (ON) Arts and Historical Museums. Auf Widorsehen and Concertino for Trombone and Orchestra have recently been published by Eighth Note Publications of Markham (ON).

Thomas D. Brosh's Three Movements for Solo Saxophone and Series One were performed at the University of Wyoming, Cory Hill (sax) and the composer (pf), on 3/22/97; Our Father was performed by the Community College of Aurora Choir with conductor Ronald Seggerman on 4/28/97.

Elenor Cory's CD Images, Music by Eleanor Cory was recently released by Soundspells Productions; Encounters (fl, ob, cl, vn, va, vc) was performed by the New York University New Music and Dance Ensemble at the Frederick Lowe Theater (NY) on 12/2/96; Play Within a Play (pf) was premiered by Marcia Eckert at Lang Recital Hall (NY) on 2/4/97, and at A Celebration of Women Composers at Barnard College (NY) on 2/28/97, and again for the National Association of Composers/USA at Christ and St. Stephen's Church (NY) on 3/11/97; Interviews (va, pf) was premiered by Liana Laura Mount (va) and Max Lifchitz (pf) of North/South Consonance at Christ and St. Stephen's Church (NY) on 2/16/97; Pas de Quatre (fl, vn, vc, pf) was performed by the Washington Square Contemporary Music Society at Merkin Concert Hall (NY) on 3/25/97.

Keith Dippre's Chorus of Cows (a surrealistic theater piece for percussion, brass, synthesizers and poets) was recently premiered at the Wright State University Creative Arts Center in Dayton (OH) on 5/13/97.

Jack Fortner's fur Eloisa was performed in the Teatro Pergolesi in Jesi, Italy by the Akanthos Ensemble on 5/31/96 during the Incontri Internazionali di Musica Contemporanea. This work has also been released on New Ariel Records CD, Jeffrey Jacobs, pianist in 2/97. CHART was recorded by the CSUF Jazz Band A in 5/96; Cantilenae for Flute and Piano was performed in Cluj-Napoca by Art-Contrast on 11/18/96; Symphonies was recorded by the State Filarmonica Transylvania in Cluj-Napoca, Romania in 6/96 conducted by the composer; and was again performed during the Cluj Moderne Festival by State Filarmonica Transylvania, Barry Webb conductor on 4/11/97. Recent commissions include Etudes for Two Cellists from Michael & Julianne Flaksman, Mannheim, Germany; and Chiaroscuro for Guitar and Percussion from Reinbert Evers, Munster, Germany.

Mark Francis's 7 Dickinson Songs (S, gui) were performed at the Vanderbilt University International Festival in Nashville (TN) in 3/97. Outpages (cl) was performed by F. Gerald Errante at Norfolk State University (VA) in 3/97, and again at the Southeastern Composers League Conference at Radford University (VA).

Sean Hickey's Sonata for Flute and Piano was performed 5/10/97; String Quartet on 5/11/97; Second String Trio on 5/11/97 at Temple University.

Alfred Hoose's Pange Lingua (org) was premiered by Glenn Goda in a recital at Mission Church in Boston (MA) on 6/1/97. This performance was broadcast on Station WCRB-FM 102.5.

Karl Husa's Music for Prague was performed at the closing concert of the 1997 Spring Music Festival in Prague by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zdenek Macal, on 6/2/97. Music for Prague has also recently been performed by the Jacksonville Symphony, conducted by the composer; in Sao Paulo, Brazil conducted by Frank Battisti; at the Peabody Conservatory, conducted by Harlam Parker; at the University of Connecticut; and by the U.S. Marine Band, Washington D.C. conducted by Major D. Burian. Symphonic Suite was performed at Carnagie Hall by the American Composers Orchestra, conducted by Paul Dunkel. 4th String Quartet received its Prague premiere by the Suk Quartet at the chamber series concerts of the Czech Philharmonic in 3/97, and was again performed by the Colorado Quartet in Wooster (OH) and at the National Gallery in Washington. Sonata for Piano was performed by Michael Salmirs in Ithaca (NY) and Syracuse (NY) in 4/97; Sonata a Tre was performed by the Ceruti Chamber players in Louisville (KY) in 5/97; Variations was performed by members of the St. Louis Symphony in 5/97; Five Poems for Woodwind Quintet were performed this season in Bowling Green, Prague, Tallahasse and Atlanta. Les Couleurs Fauves (for wind ensemble) was premiered by the Northwestern University Wind Ensemble in Evanston (IL) on 11/16/96 and since has received performances in Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, University of Connecticut, Baton Rouge and in Norway and Holland. Apotheosis of this Earth was conducted by the composer in 3/97 at Michigan State University and Sam Houston University. Mr. Husa received an honorary degree from the Hartwick College at its Bicentennial Celebration Convocation in 5/97. Festive Ode (for chorus, orchestra, and band) was performed at that same celebration. Concerto for Wind Ensemble and Smetana Fanfare were released on Summit Records with Mallory Thompson conducting the Cincinnati Wind Symphony.

Steven L. Rosenhaus has been named Composer-in-Residence for the Allegheny Brass Band (Pittsburgh, PA) concert tour of China this August. The tour will consist of ten concerts in five cities in fifteen days. His Allegheny Blast, commissioned and premiered last October by the ABB will be performed, as well as arrangements of Chinese songs written specifically for the tour. Mr. Rosenhaus has also been commissioned to compose and conduct a new work for the Sussex County Youth Orchestra (NJ) in celebration of the ensemble's tenth anniversary; the work will be premiered in June 1998 and will be included in the repertoire for the groups subsequent European tour. The composer has accepted an invitation to join the group for the tour as Guest Composer/Conductor.

Charles Savage received the premiere performance of his Ceremonial Procession (4 tpt, org) at First Christian Church in Cambridge, Ohio on 10/12/96; and again at the Ohio Baptist Women's Conference at Muskingum College on 6/12/97. His Breath (2 fl) was premiered at Ohio State University on 5/10/97.

Michael Sidney Timpson recently received an ASCAP for his work Decatet Percolating Particle MIX (s sax, b cl, cbn, tbn, mar, hpd, banjo, vn, vc, db), this piece was recently performed by MusicLink Contemporary Consort in Ann Arbor (MI). Synscacrony (tape), Surface Music (va, harpsichord) and METALBURNER (flugelhorn, tbn, euphonium, tba) were recently premiered in Ann Arbor. RIP (pf) was performed by I-Hsuan Tsai for MusicLink in 8/97, and again at the Midwest Composers Symposium in 11/97. His solo vibraphone works and jazz pieces are continually receiving numerous performances by percussionist/keyboardist Tony Bott in Japan. This summer, his Four Songs of Dorothy Partker will be performed in Prague, Czech Republic.