Zamcheck, LaGuardia High School class of 2007, is a guitarist and composer from the Bronx. He attended the Mannes Prep School, where he studied the classical guitar with Srdjan Berdovic and Frederic Hand, and music theory with Deborah Jamini. At LaGuardia he studied composition with Jim Pugliese and he is now attending Bowdoin College, where he will continue his studies of harmony and organ with the organist Ray Cornils. Akiva's compositions have been largely devoted to adapting old and ancient styles in modern musical languages. His current project is creating a group of Madrigals set to portions of Herman Melville's “Moby-Dick.”

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.

BMI Foundation's Gary Roth, BMI LaGuardia High School Composer-in-Residence Jim Pugliese, Zavin Scholarship winner Patrick Monte, Thea's son Joshua Zavin and BMI Foundation's Ralph Jackson. Photo by Dana Rodriguez

The scholarship was established through the generosity of family and friends to honor the memory of Theodora (Thea) Zavin, Founding President of the BMI Foundation. In making the announcement, Jackson said, "Thea was legendary for her support of talented young musicians and always had a special place in her heart for the vibrant artistic environment at LaGuardia. I know that she would be so pleased to be remembered in this way."

2006 LaGuardia High School graduate Patrick Monte is a composer and performer on guitar, percussion and Mbira. He has studied composition with Jim Pugliese and Khabu Doug Young. Several of his compositions, ranging from jazz orchestra to small chamber ensemble to ska/rock band, have been performed at LaGuardia and at such New York venues as CBGB's, the Knitting Factory, ABC No Rio, the Continental and Arlene's Grocery. He plans to pursue his college studies at the City University of New York (CUNY).

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.]]> 2006-06-26T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334596 Anderson, Kim, Pugliese, Jim, Foundation, Theodora Zavin Scholarship BMI Foundation, Inc., has announced that Kim Anderson is the first recipient of the Theodora Zavin Memorial Scholarship. The new award, to be given for outstanding achievement in composition, will be presented annually to a graduating senior at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts in New York City. Anderson received a $2,000 scholarship to further her musical education.

Theodora Zavin Memorial Scholarship winner Kim Anderson (center) accepts her $2,000 check from LaGuardia Composer-in-Residence Jim Pugliese and BMI Foundation President Ralph N. Jackson. photo by Dana Rodriguez

The scholarship was established through the generosity of family and friends to honor the memory of Theodora (Thea) Zavin, Founding President of the BMI Foundation. In making the announcement, Jackson said, "Thea was passionate about helping young musicians and I know that she would have been delighted to be remembered in this way. Her vision, drive, intelligence and kindness serve as a compass for all of us who continue her charitable work."

Kim Anderson, a 2005 graduate of LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts, started writing folk songs in elementary school and became interested in jazz and classical music in high school, where she studied composition with Jim Pugliese, the BMI Foundation's Composer-in-Residence at LaGuardia. She is a flutist, pianist and singer and has performed in concert bands, jazz bands and other ensembles. Anderson is currently a jazz composition major at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

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 97% of all donations and income are used for charitable grants.]]> 2005-10-27T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233374 Artists, Pugliese, Jim, Type, Legal BMI's Gary Roth, Assistant Vice President of Legal & Business Affairs (left), presents a Copyright Awareness Week poster to Bernice Fleischer, Music Department Chairperson at New York's LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. Roth is the incoming Treasurer of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A., the non-profit educational organization that sponsors Copyright Awareness Week (April 22-28, 2002), and was a guest speaker at the high school where he discussed copyright law and performing rights in hopes of creating a greater awareness among students about the protection and use of creative works. Other speakers included past Copyright Society president Michael Pollack, Senior Vice President & General Counsel at Elektra Entertainment; incoming Copyright Society president Maria Danzilo of John Wiley & Sons; and BMI Composer-in-Residence Jim Pugliese.

photo: Dana Rodriguez

BMI composer Jim Pugliese (seated) is presented with a check by BMI Foundation officers Robbin Ahrold (VP), Gary Roth (VP) and Ralph Jackson (President) during his recent visit to the New York office. Pugliese is the BMI Foundation's Composer-in Residence at New York City's LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts, where he teaches composition. Funded by the Foundation, the program teaches young composers to express themselves and to use their own voices when composing music, to produce and rehearse music for a concert, and to write programs and notes. Their debut concert last year at the Hallmark in downtown Manhattan was so successful that the students have been asked to perform other concerts there. They will also perform two concerts at the high school in March and in May. In addition, senior Lauren Buchter has been selected to have her new string quartet performed by the New York Youth Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

Jim Pugliese's background includes 25 years playing drums and percussion, composing music and recording. He has performed and/or recorded with such artists as John Cage, Lukas Foss, Kent Nagano, Philip Glass and Carlos Chavez. He can be heard on over 60 CD’s of new music, jazz and rock, and is an accomplished performer and composer in the United States, Europe and Japan. Pugliese has performed at numerous international and regional festivals and venues including Bang On A Can, Victoriavillle, Tampere, Saalfelden, Nicolsdorf Jazz Festivals, Roulette, The Knitting Factory, Dance Theater Workshop, Symphony Space and Lincoln Center Outdoor Festival. He also spent 12 years as a member of Dean Drummond’s Newband and The Harry Partch Ensemble.

In 1997, Pugliese's collaborative trio, EasSide Percussion with Christine Bard and Michael Evans, released their first CD on Avant and are about to release a follow-up on the same label. He was also Artist-in-Residence at Harvestworks in New York City in 1998, where he recorded his solo CD Sonic Soul. He performs regularly with Philip Glass and his band Soultronix, and is preparing for a solo concert for extended drums and percussion at Roulette this spring.