Congratulations to the composer Michael-Thomas Foumai

Congratulations to MT Foumai whose Korean-folk music inspired piece Village Music had been premiered in Boston in our Gala concert of 2015.

The following is an excerpt taken from the University of Hawaii's News article: 

Michael-Thomas Foumai, a lecturer in the University of Hawaii Manoa Department of Music, has won a 2017 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Foundation (ASCAP) young composer award that encourages talented young creators of concert music. Foumai's award-winning 25-minute long composition—featuring a flute, cello and piano—is titled Manookian Murals.It was first performed in December 2016 by the Dolce Suono Ensemble in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Past winners of the Morton Gould Young Composer Award, the country’s most prestigious and visible award for young composers from ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), include Pulitzer-Prize winning composers Jennifer Higdon, Aaron Jay Kernis and Kevin Puts.

"Manookian’s work had an immediate impact that touched upon all my senses," said Foumai. "One could see, hear and nearly smell and taste the ancient Hawaiʻi that he envisioned."
For more information on Foumai and "Manookian Murals,” and to hear a snippet of the composition, visit the “Manookian Murals” website.
"We are so proud of Michael being one of the recipients of this prestigious award," said Lawrence Paxton, chair of the Department of Music. "He highlights the vitality of our faculty and the uniqueness of our nationally respected Music Department and its innovative programs."
Added ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, "Nurturing young talent is an essential part of The ASCAP Foundation’s mission. We congratulate these gifted young composters ranging in age from 15 to 30 and thank our dedicated panel of ASCAP members who selected composers from approximately 550 submissions."

http://www.hawaii.edu/news/2017/04/06/foumai-young-composers-award/