Eric Nathan, DMA '12, who recently successfully defended his dissertation in the field of music composition, has been selected from among nearly 670 competitors to receive a 2012 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Award.

This is Nathan's fourth ASCAP award; he received the 2012 prize for his composition "Timbered Bells" for symphonic brass ensemble and percussion. The work was commissioned by the Tanglewood Music Center and premiered at Tanglewood in July 2011.

In writing the piece, Nathan said, "I wanted to capture my memories of the open spaces in the Berkshires, including the view from atop Yokun Ridge of an expansive, wooded landscape, and the sound of outdoor brass playing reverberating off the hills in haunting tones. The work I have written explores these impressions of space and distance, as well as the variety of sound colors that brass can produce."

In all, 29 young composers were honored by the ASCAP Foundation program. Along with other special award winners, they will share prize money of more than $40,000. ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams said these gifted young composers "represent the bright future of American concert music."

Nathan received degrees at Indiana University, Yale University and the Juilliard School Pre-College Division before coming to Cornell.

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