Takuma Itoh, Ryan Gallagher and Eric Nathan, doctoral candidates in the field of composition, have been selected from among 750 competitors to receive 2011 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. In all, 30 young composers were honored by the ASCAP Foundation program. These composers, along with other special award winners, will share prize money of approximately $45,000.

"We have a lot of a respect for Cornell students," said Michael Spudic, ASCAP's concert music administrator. "These winners are uniquely gifted composers and great musical citizens."

Itoh received composition degrees at the University of Michigan and Rice University before coming to Cornell. He received the ASCAP award for "Undercurrent," written for the Festival Chamber Orchestra. Itoh received Morton Gould Young Composer Awards in 2004, 2007 and 2010, as well as ASCAP's 2010 Leo Kaplan Award for the highest score in the competition.

Gallagher previously studied at the Juilliard School of Music and with private teachers. He received the ASCAP award for his orchestral work "Grindhouse," which will be premiered by the American Composers Orchestra in October. Gallagher received Morton Gould Young Composer Awards in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Nathan received degrees at Indiana University, Yale University and the Juilliard School Pre-College Division before coming to Cornell. He received the ASCAP prize for his composition "Three by Three" for piano solo. The piece recently premiered in China with pianist Hui Wu. In 2011, Nathan received a Morton Gould Young Composer Award and ASCAP's Rudolf Nissim Prize for his orchestra piece "Icarus Dreamt."

Linda B. Glaser is a staff writer for the College of Arts and Sciences.