American Composers Orchestra Honors Andy Akiho with $15,000 Grand Prize from the Underwood Emerging Composer Commission

The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) has named their 2014 Underwood Commission award to Andy Akiho. In addition to the accolade, the American-born composer will also be awarded a $15,000 prize for a future work to be premiered by the ACO.

Akiho's work will be commissioned for the ACO's 2015-16 season. The composer was chosen from seven finalists during the ACO's 23rd Underwood New Music Readings on June 6 and 7 in a most coveted opportunity among his peers.

Akiho's composition, Tarnished Mirrors, won the top prize.

Alongside Akiho, audience members at the Underwood New Music Readings chose Kyle Peter Rotolo as the recipient of the Audience Choice Award for his piece Apophis. He has been commissioned to compose an original mobile phone ringtone, which will be made available to all voters for free.

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