The NHSO was the only Connecticut orchestra honored with a 2010-11 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Award for Adventurous Programming, June 9 during the League of American Orchestras Annual Meeting at the League’s 66th National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The NHSO was selected for the award in recognition of the orchestra’s commitment to contemporary music programming, which in the 2010-2011 season included works by Augusta Read Thomas, Jin Hi Kim, and Branford composer/pianist Stacey Rose. In addition to concert programming, Thomas and Kim worked extensively with the orchestra’s community partners including St. Martin de Porres Academy, Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School, Connecticut Mental Health Center, and Covidien among others.

The NHSO last won this prestigious award over 30 years ago during the 1979-80 season under then Music Director Murry Sidlin.

The Awards for Adventurous Programming are offered to American orchestras each year by the ASCAP and the League of American Orchestras for concerts that challenge the audience, build the repertoire, and strengthen support for American composers in this country and abroad. The awards recognize orchestras of all sizes whose programming in the most recent concert season demonstrates a strong commitment to contemporary music.