ASCAP Establishes Two Scholarships at Berklee

The ASCAP Foundation is pleased to announce its support of ASCAP Day at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts on April 11, 2011. Grammy- and Emmy-nominated writer and ASCAP member Patrice Rushen headlined the day.

Rushen, a composer, producer, and international recording artist, has fashioned a career inspired by her longtime friend and mentor Quincy Jones. Admired by many for her groundbreaking achievements, Rushen has amassed an impressive list of "firsts." She was the first woman to serve as musical director for the 46^th, 47^th, and 48^th annual Grammy Awards; the first woman in 43 years to serve as head composer/musical director for television's highest honor, the Emmy Awards, and the first woman musical director of the NAACP Image Awards, an honor she held for 12 consecutive years.

ASCAP Day is designed to provide film scoring and songwriting students with information on current trends in their fields. Rushen discussed her own career with both the film scoring and songwriting students, and ASCAP staff was available to answer students' questions about the current state of the music business and performing rights organizations.

"By establishing an ASCAP Day at Berklee we show our support for young and emerging composers and songwriters at the college level," stated ASCAP and ASCAP Foundation board president Paul Williams. "Today's Berklee students are tomorrow's ASCAP members. These students are taking a major leap of faith to try to make their art their lives. I want the question of what their future holds to have a positive answer."

Another highlight of ASCAP Day was the establishment of the two new scholarships at Berklee: the ASCAP Foundation Film Scoring Scholarship at Berklee College of Music and the ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Scholarship at Berklee College of Music. Each scholarship recognizes talent, professionalism, musical ability, and career potential in film scoring and songwriting, respectively. Recipients are selected by the Berklee Film Scoring and Songwriting faculties.

Sarah Eide, the inaugural recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Film Scoring Scholarship at Berklee College of Music, is a composer, songwriter, and conductor. Her classical training began on the piano at 5 years of age. At Berklee, she is presented with a variety of opportunities to utilize all of her talents. Eide, an ASCAP member, recently scored the feature film In Medias Res for independent Los Angeles–based director Joe Perry and wrote music for AdLibs, a newly released video game. She cofounded and organized Culturehouse, a Boston-based concert series bringing together local nonprofits and bands.

The inaugural recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Songwriting Scholarship at Berklee College of Music is ASCAP member Danielle Deckard. Deckard began taking private vocal and piano lessons at age 10 and soon after began scribbling lyrics and writing songs in her notebook during English class. At Berklee, Deckard continues to write and record her own music. She has spent the last year playing in the RED Trio as well as playing solo. In January 2011, her original song "Undone" was featured in the CNN documentary Selling the Girl Next Door about child trafficking in the United States.

Patrice Rushen and both scholarship recipients were honored at a luncheon on April 11 that was attended by Berklee faculty and ASCAP/ASCAP Foundation staff. ASCAP Day at Berklee College of Music is supported by the ASCAP Foundation Joseph and Rosalie Meyer Fund. The two scholarships are made possible by the Bart Howard Estate.