In a career that lasted more than four decades, Mardin collected numerous awards, including 12 Grammys, and his many recordings earned him more than 40 gold and platinum albums. Honored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) with a Trustee Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2001, he played a vital role in the careers of such diverse artists as Aretha Franklin, the Bee Gees, Willie Nelson, Dusty Springfield and Norah Jones.

We are deeply saddened by the news of Arif's passing," said BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. "A member of the BMI family for more than 40 years, he made an indelible mark on our industry, crafting countless hits across virtually every musical genre. He will be remembered as one of the true giants in the history of recorded music."

Arif Mardin was born on March 15, 1932, in Istanbul, Turkey. Trained in economics but also a composer, arranger and orchestrator, Mardin's life changed in 1956 when he met Dizzy Gillespie and Quincy Jones at a Turkish concert. So impressed were they by his compositions, Jones recommended Mardin for a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, Mass., where Mardin studied from 1958 to 1961.

Mardin joined Atlantic Records in 1963 as an assistant to Neshui Ertegun, who supervised the jazz division. When music legend and Atlantic label head Jerry Wexler heard some of Mardin's arrangements for King Curtis at a BMI Awards event, he recognized an untapped in-house talent. He quickly became, in Wexler's words, a "super pro" and "soulful Turkish eminence."

During his association with Atlantic, Mardin arranged and helped to produce such outstanding artists as the Young Rascals, Hall & Oates, Bette Midler, Robert Flack, John Prine, Donnie Hathaway and the Average White Band. He was made a Vice President of the label in 1969 and retired in 2001.

Later successes followed with albums by Chaka Khan, Rod Stewart, Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross, among many others. One of his last major achievements was the breakthrough release by Norah Jones in 2003.

Of his associate, Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun said, "In a business driven by trend and fashion, Arif has remained a true artist, a man of incredible musical talent."

Mardin is survived by his wife, Latife, a novelist and playwright; his son, Joe, a producer and arranger; and two daughters, Julie and Nazan Joffre.]]> 2006-06-26T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234365 Artists, Anderson, Bill, Big & Rich, Black, Clint, Boyd, Bobby E., Brooks & Dunn, Cannon, Chuck, Evans, Sara, Gentry, Montgomery, Hummon, Marcus, Jones, Norah, Keith, Toby, Krauss, Alison, Lonestar, Mardin, Arif, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Nichols, Tim, Parton, Dolly, Rascal Flatts, Robby, Roberts, Julie, Twain, Shania, Uncle Kracker, Urban, Keith, Wright, Mark, Musical Styles, Country Tim McGraw is the top nominee in the 40th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, announced March 3. In addition to entertainer and male vocalist praise, McGraw collected an album nomination for Live Like You Were Dying, with the title track earning him single, video and song of the year recognition.

Tim McGraw	Keith Urban	Toby Keith

BMI songwriters nominated for Song of the Year were Tim Nichols for "Live Like You Were Dying"; Toby Keith and Chuck Cannon for "American Soldier"; Bobby E. Boyd, Marcus Hummon and Jeff Hanna for "Bless the Broken Road"; and Bill Anderson and Jon Randall for "Whiskey Lullaby."

Alison Krauss	Byron Gallimore

Alison Krauss scored five nominations: one for Alison Krauss + Union Station as Top Vocal Group and four courtesy of song, video, single, and vocal event nominee "Whiskey Lullaby." Keith Urban, reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Toby Keith and producer Byron Gallimore received four nods each. Big & Rich, Rascal Flatts and producer Mark Wright received three nominations each.

Big & Rich	Mark Wright

Diamond Rio paired their Top Vocal Group nomination with one for the Home Depot Humanitarian Award; online voting is underway for the fan-voted honor.

The ACM Awards show, set for May 17 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, will be broadcast live on CBS-TV.

Rascal Flatts	Julie Roberts

BMI nominees for the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards:

Entertainer of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Keith Urban

Top Vocal Group
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
The Notorious Cherry Bombs

Top New Artist
Big & Rich
Julie Roberts

Top Vocal Duo
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Warren Brothers

Diamond Rio	Sara Evans

Top Female Vocalist
Sara Evans
Martina McBride

Top Male Vocalist
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Keith Urban

Video of the Year
"Live Like You Were Dying"
Tim McGraw

"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"
Big & Rich

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss

Brooks & Dunn	Martina McBride

Vocal Event of the Year
"Creepin' In"
Norah Jones and Dolly Parton
Arif Mardin and Norah Jones, producers

"Hey Good Lookin'"
with Clint Black and Toby Keith
Michael Utley, producer

"Party for Two"
Shania Twain

"When the Sun Goes Down"
Uncle Kracker

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss

Song of the Year
"American Soldier"
Toby Keith
Toby Keith and Chuck Cannon, writers
Tokeco Tunes and Wacissa River Music, Inc.

"Bless the Broken Road"
Rascal Flatts
Marcus Hummon, Bobby E. Boyd and Jeff Hanna, writers
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. and Jeff Diggs Music

"Live Like You Were Dying"
Tim McGraw
Tim Nichols, writer
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss
Bill Anderson and Jon Randall, writers
Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., Reynsong Publishing Corp., Sony/ATV Tree and WhaYa Say Music

Single Record of the Year
"Bless the Broken Road"
Rascal Flatts, artist/producer

"Days Go By"
Keith Urban, artist/producer

"I May Hate Myself in the Morning"
Byron Gallimore, producer

"Live Like You Were Dying"
Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw, Byron Gallimore and Darran Smith, producers

"Redneck Woman"
Mark Wright and Joe Scaife producers

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss

Album of the Year
Be Here
Keith Urban
Producers: Keith Urban

Here for the Party
Mark Wright and Joe Scaife, producers

Live Like You Were Dying
Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw, Byron Gallimore and Darran Smith, producers

Restless
Sara Evans, artist/producer

Producer of the Year
Bryon Gallimore
James Stroud
Mark Wright

Engineer of the Year
Justin Niebank

Musicians of the Year
Bass
Mike Brignardello
David Hungate
Larry Paxton

Drums
Eric Darken

Fiddle
Glen Duncan
Stuart Duncan
Larry Franklin
Rob Hajacos
Jonathan Yudkin

Guitar
J.T. Corenflos
John Jorgenson
Brent Mason
Bryan Sutton

Piano/Keyboards
Gordon Mote

Specialty Instrument
Jim Hoke
Jim Horn
Rob Ickes
Randy Scruggs

Steel
Dan Dugmore
Sonny Garrish
John Hughey
Mike Johnson
Robby Turner]]> 2005-03-07T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233724 Fried, Jaide , Baker, Stacy Allyn, Lennon, John, Mardin, Arif, Ono, Yoko, Wildhorn, Frank, Country, Jazz, Pop, Foundation, John Lennon Scholarship BMI Foundation President Ralph N. Jackson has announced the winners of the 6th annual John Lennon Scholarships, a program that recognizes the talent of young songwriters between the ages of 15 and 24. This year's winners include University of Miami senior Jaide Fried, who received first place honors and a $5,000 scholarship for her piece "Love Me Tonight." Jaide was awarded the top prize at a special presentation during the recent BMI Pop Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on May 13.

Jaide Fried Listen | Bio

Stacy Allyn Baker Listen | Bio

Melissa Cartoun Listen | Bio

Berklee College of Music student Stacy Allyn Baker was named second place winner for her song "Too Late For Love Songs," and received a $2,500 scholarship. Third place winner Melissa Cartoun, a student at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, also received a $2,500 scholarship for her winning piece entitled "25."

The 2003 judges included legendary record producer Arif Mardin, record producer and hit Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn, and esteemed jazz specialist Suzan Jenkins. Thousands of students from across the country participated in the competition this year.

Established by Yoko Ono in 1997 in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, the John Lennon Scholarships have been made possible through generous donations from Ono with matching funds from Gibson Musical Instruments. Over $100,000 has been awarded over the last six years to students from music schools, universities, youth orchestras and submissions from the Music Educators National Conference (MENC).

The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985 to support the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation come primarily from songwriters, composers and publishers, BMI employees and members of the public with a special interest in music. Because both the Foundation staff and the distinguished members of the Advisory Panel serve without compensation, over 95% of all donations and income are used for charitable grants.]]> 2003-05-28T18:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/200023 Artists, Bacilos, Bee Gees, The, Blind Boys of Alabama, The, Branch, Michelle, Cachao, Crow, Sheryl, Dirty Vegas, Dixie Chicks, Eminem, Flaming Lips, The, Foo Fighters, Hancock, Herbie, Hargrove, Roy, Harris, Jesse, Hill, Faith, James, Etta, Jars of Clay, Jones, Norah, King, B.B., Korn, Lauderdale, Jim, Mardin, Arif, Metheny, Pat, Nelson, Willie, Newman, Thomas, Simon, Paul, Slutsky, Allan, Stanley, Ralph, Awards, Musical Styles, Bluegrass, Blues, Country, Dance, Folk, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Rock, Grammy Awards Norah Jones, was the big winner in February 23’s Grammy Awards Presentations at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. Jones’s sultry vocals and piano styling led her first CD to grab the coveted Recording Academy Gramophones in the top categories of Record of the Year, Album of the Year, best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. She also received the Best New Artist award. New York BMI songwriter Jesse Harris received the Song of the Year award for his “Don’t Know Why”, also recorded by Jones, and her legendary producer Arif Mardin was named Producer of the Year, non-classical, and joined Norah in receiving the Album of the Year and Record of the Year awards.

Norah Jones

Dixie Chicks

Arif Mardin

Country crossover trio Dixie Chicks scored three awards for Best Country Album (Home), Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Country Instrumental. BMI represented songwriters receiving two awards each that evening included: Eminem, The Funk Brothers, Herbie Hancock, B.B. King, and Thomas Newman. Madukwu Chinwah and Rashid Lonnie Lynn shared the award for Best R&B Song (“Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop”)).

Eminem

Herbie Hancock

B.B. King

A number of BMI songwriters were honored with special Recording Academy Awards. Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel and seminal R&B artist Etta James received Lifetime Achievement Awards, while the late music historian Alan Lomax received the Trustees Award. In an emotional presentation, The Bee Gees were given the Legends Award that they dedicated to their recently deceased brother Maurice.

Jesse Harris

Thomas Newman

BMI's 2003 Grammy Award Winners

FIVE AWARDS

Norah Jones
Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Best New Artist
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Best Pop Vocal Album

THREE AWARDS

Dixie Chicks
Best Country Album
Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal
Best Country Instrumental Performance

Arif Mardin
Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

TWO AWARDS

Eminem
Best Rap Album
Best Short Form Music Video

The Funk Brothers
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

Herbie Hancock
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group

B.B. King
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Best Traditional Blues Album

Thomas Newman
Best Instrumental Composition
Best Instrumental Arrangement

SONG OF THE YEAR

Jesse Harris
“ Don’t Know Why”
Song of the Year

SINGLE AWARD WINNERS

Santana
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Michelle Branch
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Norman Brown
Best Pop Instrumental Album

Dirty Vegas (PRS)
Best Dance Recording

Sheryl Crow
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance

Foo Fighters
Best Hard Rock Performance

Korn
Best Metal Performance

The Flaming Lips
Best Rock Instrumental Performance

Take 6
Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal

Madukwu Chinwah
Best R&B Song

Rashid Lonnie Lynn
Best R&B Song

Faith Hill
Best Female Country Vocal Performance

Willie Nelson
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

Jim Lauderdale
Best Bluegrass Album

Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boy
Best Bluegrass Album

Eric Tingstad
Best New Age Album

Nancy Rumbel
Best New Age Album

Pat Metheny Group
Best Contemporary Jazz Album

Diana Krall
Best Jazz Vocal Album

Michael Brecker
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group

Roy Hargrove
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group

Dave Holland Big Band
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Caribbean Jazz Project
Best Latin Jazz Album

Jars Of Clay
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album

The Jordanaires
Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Album

The Light Crust Doughboys
Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Album

The Blind Boys of Alabama
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album

Bacilos
Best Latin Pop Album

Bebo Valdés Trio with Israel “Cachao” López & Carlos “Patato” Valdés
Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album

Solomon Burke
Best Contemporary Blues Album

Doc Watson & David Holt
Best Traditional Folk Album

Lee “Scratch” Perry (PRS)
Best Reggae Album

Jimmy Sturr
Best Polka Album

Riders In The Sky
Best Musical Album for Children

Robin Willliams
Best Spoken Comedy Album

Allan Slutsky
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

Dave Grusin
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist

Dave Evans
Best Album Notes

Don Letts (PRS)
Best Long Form Music Video

David Glasser
Best Historical Album

Sheryl Crow

Eminem

Norah Jones

Other BMI writers who received multiple nominations included four each for country darlings the Dixie Chicks, producer Arif Mardin and Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger (including Record of the Year for the Nickelback smash "How You Remind Me"). Newcomer Vanessa Carlton picked up three. Fellow BMI pop divas Pink, Britney Spears and Michelle Branch garnered two nominations each, as did blues legend B.B. King, film composer Thomas Newman and gospel giant Fred Hammond.

BMI's 2003 Grammy nominees:

FIVE NOMINATIONS

Sheryl Crow
Eminem
Norah Jones

FOUR NOMINATIONS

Dixie Chicks
Chad Kroeger (SOCAN)

THREE NOMINATIONS

Vanessa Carlton
Floetry (Marsha Ambrosius, Natalie Stewart)
Arif Mardin
Pat Metheny

TWO NOMINATIONS

Michelle Branch
Michael Brecker
The Chieftains
Madukwu Chinwah
Natalie Cole
Dirty Vegas (PRS)
Foo Fighters
Carlos Franzetti
Kenny G
Pat Green
Herbie Hancock
Nellee Hooper (PRS)
B.B. King
Diana Krall (SOCAN)
Rashid Lonnie Lynn
Nappy Roots
Willie Nelson
Thomas Newman
Nickel Creek
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Dolly Parton
Pink
Britney Spears
Ralph Stanley
3 Doors Down (Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell, Chris Henderson, Matt Roberts)
Doc Watson
John Williams

SINGLE NOMINEES

Aaliyah
Will Ackerman
John Adams
Christina Aguilera
Darol Anger
Audio Adrenaline
Bacilos
David Balakrishnan
Charli Baltimore
Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Jeff Bass
Daniel Bedingfield (PRS)
Big Tymers
Eddie Blazonczyk
The Blind Boys of Alabama
Kevin Bond
Ryan Bowser
David Bowie (PRS)
Brandy
Norman Brown
Solomon Burke
Burning Sky
R.L. Burnside
Gary Burton
Gary Calamar
Michel Camilo
Cam’Ron
The Canton Spirituals
Capleton (PRS)
Caribbean Jazz Project
Cee-Lo
Lauren Christy
The Clinch Mountain Boys
Andy Colver (PRS)
Commissioned
Common
Creed
Bill Cunliffe
The Charlie Daniels Band
Diamond Rio
Michael Doucet
Dave Douglas
Don Edwards
Danny Elfman
Enya (PRS)
Faith Evans
Tommy Flanagan
The Flaming Lips
Béla Fleck
Michael J. Fox
Allison Brewster Franzetti
The Funk Brothers
Peter Gabriel (PRS)
David Lee Garza y Los Musicales
Osvaldo Golijov
Gov’t Mule
Al Green
Grits
Dave Grusin
Deitrick Haddon
Fred Hammond
Roy Hargrove
Jesse Harris
Don Henley
Faith Hill
Dave Holland Big Band
David Holt
Intocable
Etta James
Jars of Clay
JaRule
Jay-Z
Maxi Jazz (PRS)
Little Joe & La Familia
Elton John (PRS)
The Jordanaires
Juanes
John P. Kee
Salif Keita (PRS)
R. Kelly
Kinky
Kitaro
Jennifer Knapp
Knoc-Turn’Al
Korn
Dave Koz
Jeff Koz
Alison Krauss
Femi Kuti (SACEM)
kd lang
Jim Lauderdale
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Don Letts (PRS)
Lonestar
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
The Light Crust Doughboys
Limi-T 21
Israel “Cachao” López
Taj Mahal
Lloyd Maines
Maraca
Martina McBride
Delbert McClinton
Freddie McGregor (PRS)
Lee Thomas Miller
Mingus Big Band
Moby
Charlie Musselwhite
Meshell Ndegeocello
The Neptunes
Newsong
Nickelback (SOCAN)
*NSYNC
The Oak Ridge Boys
Makoto Ozone (JASRAC)
Lee “Scratch” Perry
Pharrell
Queens of the Stone Age
Busta Rhymes
Riders In the Sky
Peter Rowan
Nancy Rumbel
Nicky Ryan (PRS)
Roma Ryan (PRS)
Mingo Saldivar y Sus Tremendos Cuatro Espadas
Santana
John Santos and the Machete Ensemble
Al Schmitt
The John Scofield Band
Earl Scruggs
Wayne Shorter
Jon Sidel
Siggno
Allan Slutsky
Arthur Smith (PRS)
The Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Scott Spock
Ralph Stanley II
Sting (PRS)
Angie Stone
Omar Sosa
Luciana Souza
Jimmy Sturr
Take Six
Susan Tedeschi
John Tesh
The Temptations
Eric Tingstad
Tobymac
Trick Pony
Kathy Troccoli
Los Tucanes De Tijuana
McCoy Tyner
Jai Uttal
Bebo Valdés
Carlos “Patato” Valdés
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Scott Wenzel
Kenny Werner
Lucinda Williams
Robin Williams
Dean Wilson (PRS)
BeBe Winans
The Roland White Band
Pete Woodruff
Yellowjackets
Joe Zawinul

The winners will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 31 at the BMI New York office. Attendees expected at the cocktail reception and presentation include scholarship founder Yoko Ono, as well as scholarship judges Suzan Jenkins, RIAA Senior Vice President of Marketing, legendary record producer Arif Mardin, and multiple Tony Award-winning musical theater composer Maury Yeston.

The winners of the 5th Annual John Lennon Scholarship Awards are congratulated by judges and BMI Foundation officers. Seen here after the presentation are (front row): Honorable Mention winner Courtney Dashe, Second Place winner Liz Pappademas, Second Place winner Adrian Gordon, First Place winner Michael Figueroa, Second Place winner Bora Yoon and Honorable Mention winner Jena Eisenberg. (Back row): BMI's David Sanjek, Lennon Scholarship administrator; BMI theatre composer Maury Yeston, scholarship judge; BMI's Ralph Jackson, BMI Foundation president; consultant Suzan Jenkins, scholarship judge; and legendary record producer Arif Mardin, scholarship judge.

Established in 1997 by Ono in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, the John Lennon Scholarship Awards recognize the talent of young songwriters between the ages of 15 and 24. Over $80,000 in scholarship money has been awarded over the past five years to students from music schools, universities, youth orchestras and submissions from the Music Educators National Conference (MENC).

BMI's Samantha Cox congratulates First Place winner Michael Figueroa

The BMI Foundation, headed by BMI’s Ralph Jackson, Assistant Vice President of Classical Music Relations and Director of the BMI Student Composer Awards, was founded in 1985 by former BMI Senior Vice President Theodora Zavin as a non-profit corporation dedicated to encouraging the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants.

Winners Jena Eisenberg, Courtney Dashe and Bora Yoon

Michael Figueroa

Adrian Gordon

Liz Pappademas

Bora Yoon

Courtney Dashe

Jena Eisenberg

Born in New York City, she grew up in Dallas with her mother and attributes her musical influences to her mother. "My mom had this eight-album Billie Holiday set. I picked out one disc that I liked and played that over and over again. 'You Go To My Head,' that was my favorite."

Jones began playing piano at the age of seven and discovered singing while attending high school, branching out to jazz piano while a student at the University of North Texas. Come Away With Me shows that Jones was absorbing various styles all the while. Signed to Blue Note, Jones has the jazz chanteuse model in her repertoire, but her subtle blending of pop, r&b and country influences combine to create a vocal style that is hard to categorize.

After winning Down Beat's Student Music Award for Best Jazz Vocalist and Best Original Composition, Jones spent some time in Texas, splitting her time between college course-work and singing in bands. In the summer of 1999, she came to New York City where she waited on tables and sang jazz standards in Greenwich Village clubs. She put together a group that included bandmates Jesse Harris, Lee Alexander and Dan Rieser who recorded the demo that netted the Blue Note deal.

Come Away With Me was released in February and has been steadily climbing up the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart since its release (currently #37). She's been featured in Time, Newsweek and USA Today among others, landed a spot on the Tonight Show and was named one of the top new artists of 2002 by Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly.]]> 2002-04-30T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233105 Artists, Mardin, Arif, Musicworld, Feature BMI, a long-time supporter of the Recording Academy, is proud to announce the New York Chapter's annual "Triple Header," set to take place on Thursday, April 25 at One 51 (151 East 50th Street) in New York City. The evening will feature a panel of record label executives who will discuss the current state of the recording industry, a membership meeting for those interested in joining the Academy and an industry networking reception. Admission is free and open to all. A cash bar will be available.

New York Chapter Executive Director Jon Marcus and staff will explain how to become an Academy member, provide an overview of upcoming events and discuss the return of the GRAMMY Awards to New York City.

A panel discussion on issues impacting the music industry will follow, featuring Atlantic Records Vice President Jimmy Bralower, Epic Records Vice President Michael Caplan, Def Jam/Def Soul Vice President Tina Davis, RCA Records Vice President Stephen Ferrera, GRAMMY-nominated songwriter and newly elected New York Chapter President Phil Galdston, and Manhattan Records Vice President Arif Mardin.

The evening will close with a networking reception where members and prospective members can mix and mingle with Chapter staff and officers.

The membership meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by an industry panel at 7:30 p.m. and a reception at 9 p.m. For more information, contact the New York Chapter at 212.245.5440.

Winners of the 4th annual John Lennon Scholarship are congratulated by scholarship benefactor Yoko Ono after the presentation. Shown from left are Honorable Mention winners Frank Dillon and Thomas P. Conlon, 2nd place winners (tie) Ben Ward and Michael Flynn, Ono, 1st place winner Margarita Shamrakov, 3rd place winner Mark Tewarson and Honorable Mention winner Daniel Romer-Friedman.

Seen here enjoying the cocktail reception are (l-r): Suzan Jenkins, RIAA Senior Vice President of Marketing, who served as a judge and presenter; Henry Juszkiewicz, Gibson Guitars President and CEO; Lennon Scholarship benefactor Yoko Ono; Theodora Zavin, BMI Foundation President; Frances Preston, BMI President and CEO; and legendary record producer Arif Mardin, who also served as a judge and presenter.

Gibson Guitar's Henry Juszkiewicz and BMI's Frances Preston

2nd place winner, Ben Ward, receives a plaque and some applause from judges Arif Mardin and Suzan Jenkins

1st place winner, Margarita Shamrakov, is pleased to meet Yoko Ono and BMI Foundation President Thea Zavin

All photos: Chuck Pulin

The winners are Hunter College student Margarita Shamrakov, who received first place honors and a $10,000 scholarship for her piece "Tragedy," Berklee College of Music students Ben Ward ("All Fall Down") and Michael Flynn ("I'll Never Fall in Love Again"), who tied for second place and each received $5,000, and third place winner Mark Tewarson from the New York Youth Symphony who took home a $2,000 scholarship for his song "Far From the Sun."

Finalists were chosen by a prestigious panel of judges including Suzan Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Marketing at the RIAA, legendary record producer Arif Mardin, and multiple Tony Award winner and musical theater composer Maury Yeston.

Four students were awarded an "Honorable Mention" and received a $1,000 scholarship: Southern Nazarene University student Troy DeLaRosa ("Brother To Me"), Rhode Island College student Thomas P. Conlon ("Broken"), University of Arizona student Frank Dillon ("Hard Times") and LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts student Daniel Romer-Friedman ("Saturday Night").

Foundation President Theodora Zavin said, "The quality and range of the finalists was extraordinary this year. Our panel of judges wanted to recognize the level of artistic accomplishment by expanding the awards to include a total of eight prizes, and we are pleased that the growing endowment of the Lennon Scholarships Program permitted us to do that."

Zavin added, "We offer a special note of gratitude to the dozens of music educators from MENC who participated for the first time this year in early round judging."

Established in 1997 by Yoko Ono in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, the John Lennon Scholarship recognizes the talent of young songwriters between the ages of 15 and 24 and has awarded over $60,000 in scholarship money over the past 4 years.

Entries are submitted by music schools, universities, youth orchestras and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC). Two of this year's winners, Mr. DeLaRosa and Mr. Conlon, were chosen as finalists by MENC.

"The Foundation expresses its deepest gratitude to Yoko's steadfast support and incredible generosity to the endowment of this scholarship, which allows us to continue recognizing young talent," added Zavin. "We are extremely pleased to see this program developing and gaining real momentum."

The BMI Foundation, founded in 1985 by BMI Senior Vice President Theodora Zavin, offers grants which make possible the continuation and development of creative programs for the composition of new music and the performance of these new compositions.

With the aid of the distinguished writers, composers and publishers who serve on the Foundation's Advisory Panel, the Foundation's grants offer a platform of support that fosters the growth of young composers and ensures the continuation of the heritage of American musical ingenuity for generations to come.