Faculty Member Receives 16th Consecutive ASCAP Award for Compositions

Aug. 27, 2003

For the 16th consecutive year, David Vayo, professor of music composition and theory and coordinator of new music activities at Illinois Wesleyan University, has won an award for his musical compositions from the New York-based American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

ASCAP is a performing rights organization whose main purpose is to compensate composers for performances and broadcasts of their music. Not only does it support classical composers, but popular lyricists and songwriters, as well. The organization grants licenses and collects fees for the public performance of copyrighted musical works by its members. ASCAP then passes along royalty payments to its member composers.

According to a letter sent to the University from Marilyn Bergman, ASCAP president and chairman of the board, these awards display ASCAP's "continuing commitment to assist and encourage ASCAP composers" and are "based upon the unique prestige value of each writer's catalog of original compositions. . . ."

Vayo joined the IWU faculty as an assistant professor of composition and theory in 1991, after teaching at Connecticut College, the National University of Costa Rica, and National Symphony Youth Program of Costa Rica.

A native of New Haven, Conn., Vayo earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music composition at Indiana University. He earned a degree in musical arts composition in 1990 from the University of Michigan.