Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Dr. Stephen Lias, Stephen F. Austin State University professor of music, and his graduate composition student Garry Wickliffe, of Lufkin, have recently been recognized by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers with individual ASCAPlus Awards.

The society is a performing rights organization whose primary responsibility is to distribute royalties. According to the society's Web site, it annually recognizes those writers "whose works have prestige value for which they would not otherwise be compensated."

Each applicant must submit a catalog of compositions and performances completed within the past year, and these are considered in relation to all other applicants within the same category.

"There is a great deal of prestige associated with the award," explained Lias. "Garry's award is especially significant because all of the work submitted was done while he was completing his bachelor's degree. I've never had another undergraduate who had enough work to even apply."

Wickliffe's catalog included the arrangement of five carols complimenting John Rutter's "Gloria" that he wrote for the SFA 2006 Christmas choir concert, orchestrations for two numbers in SFA's production of Jacques Offenbach's opera, "La Perichole," film music for SFA School of Art's feature film "Within Us," and numerous pieces he wrote for student recitals.

Wickliffe said he was both proud and ecstatic about receiving the award. "It says I'm doing enough in composition to be recognized for my contribution to the art."

This is the ninth consecutive year that the society has recognized Lias with an ASCAPlus Award. In order for a past recipient to receive another award, he must maintain or surpass the amount of work submitted during the last award year.

Lias' works have been performed in concerts and recitals throughout the United States and abroad by soloists and ensembles such as The Louisiana Sinfonietta, The Monmouth College Chorale, The Stone Fort Wind Quintet, The Red Stick Saxophone Quartet and the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin.

He has also composed original music for over 30 professional productions. This summer he will serve as the composer-in-residence and music director at the Texas Shakespeare Festival for his tenth season.

Lias was selected as the 2003 Commissioned Composer for the Texas Music Teachers Association and has recently been appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Composers, USA. He is the founder and director of the Center for the Promotion of Contemporary Composers.