The ASCAP Foundation has revealed the recipients of its 77th annual Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards, spotlighting outstanding achievements in music journalism, literature, broadcasting, and archival work. Among this year's top honorees are significant biographical volumes focusing on legendary cinematic composers John Williams and Bernard Herrmann, alongside diverse works covering children's music history, classical traditions, and independent documentaries.
Chosen by a specialized panel of four ASCAP members—Robbie Fulks, Julie Flanders, Carman Moore, and Betsy Schramm—the annual awards recognize creative excellence in capturing musical history across pop, concert, and theatrical traditions.
Selected Winners of the 77th ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards
| Award Category | Recipient | Honored Work | Publisher / Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book Award (Concert) | Tim Greiving | John Williams: A Composer’s Life | Oxford University Press |
| Book Special Recognition (Concert) | Steven C. Smith | Hitchcock and Herrmann | Oxford University Press |
| Book Award (Concert) | Lucy Caplan | Dreaming in Ensemble | Harvard University Press |
| Book Award (Pop) | Gayle Wald | This Is Rhythm | University of Chicago Press |
| Book Award (Pop) | James O’Leary | The Middlebrow Musical | Oxford University Press |
| Article Award (Pop) | Ben Sisario | The 'Race Against Time' to Save Music Legends' Decaying Tapes | The New York Times |
| Broadcast/Media (Pop) | Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson, David McMurry | Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted | Independent Documentary |
| Broadcast/Media (Concert) | Gail Wein | Classical Gas | Classical Voice North America |
| Broadcast Special Recognition | Rick Beato | Everything Music | YouTube |
| Liner Notes Award | Ruth Komanoff Underwood | Cheaper than Cheep | ZAPPA RECORDS/UMe |
| Music Criticism Award | Gabriel Kahane | A Love Letter to Music Listings | The Atlantic |
Cinematic Composers and Classical History Take Top Book Honors
In the concert music book category, author Tim Greiving received the Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Award for "John Williams: A Composer’s Life," published by Oxford University Press. The volume stands as the first-ever biography dedicated to the celebrated composer. In the same category, author Steven C. Smith garnered a Special Recognition Award for his Oxford University Press publication, "Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema," which chronicles the creative relationship between director Alfred Hitchcock and composer Bernard Herrmann.
Beyond film scores, the concert music field also celebrated Lucy Caplan, who won a book award for "Dreaming in Ensemble: How Black Artists Transformed American Opera," published by Harvard University Press. Caplan's work details the critical contributions and innovations of Black artists in American opera during the Harlem Renaissance.
Pop Literature, Master Tape Preservation, and Print Journalism
The foundation also honored literature examining popular music and stage productions. Gayle Wald earned an award for "This Is Rhythm: Ella Jenkins, Children’s Music, and the Long Civil Rights Movement," issued by University of Chicago Press. Oxford University Press author James O’Leary was honored for "The Middlebrow Musical: Between Broadway and Opera in 1940s America," examining 1940s theatrical projects like "Oklahoma!", "Beggar’s Holiday," and "Street Scene."
In journalism, articles addressing music archiving, global symphonies, and technical performance questions earned accolades. The New York Times writer Ben Sisario won the pop music article prize for covering efforts to save deteriorating analog tapes featuring icons such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. In concert music writing, Esteban Meneses won for "Revolución: Mexican Composers on the Rise" in Symphony Magazine, while Max Keller of The New York Times received a Special Recognition Award for exploring the longstanding debate over cello posture. Additionally, Gabriel Kahane received the Virgil Thomson Award for Outstanding Music Criticism for his essay "A Love Letter to Music Listings," published in The Atlantic.
Documentaries, Digital Broadcasts, and Archival Liner Notes
Visual and audio media also featured prominently in the 77th edition of the honors. The broadcast award in pop music went to filmmakers Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson, and David McMurry for their 2025 documentary "Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted," highlighting cult R&B artist Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams. In concert music broadcasting, Gail Wein was recognized for the Classical Voice North America interview podcast "Classical Gas," while educator Rick Beato took home a Special Recognition Award for his YouTube program "Everything Music."
Archival preservation was further highlighted through the ASCAP Foundation Paul Williams "Loved the Liner Notes" Award. Percussionist Ruth Komanoff Underwood earned the distinction for her personal essay accompanying "Cheaper than Cheep," the live 1974 concert film box set from Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention released via ZAPPA RECORDS/UMe.
The annual Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards continue to serve as a key institutional platform acknowledging writers, filmmakers, and broadcasters who preserve and critique music history across evolving multimedia formats.
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Source: Variety
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