ASCAP Foundation Honors John Williams and Herrmann Books
The 77th Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards recognized Tim Greiving's John Williams biography and a special award for Steven C. Smith's Hitchcock and Herrmann.
The ASCAP Foundation announced the winners of its 77th annual Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards on October 23, 2026, recognizing books, broadcasts and podcasts about music, according to Variety.
Tim Greiving's John Williams: A Composer's Life received a Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Award in the concert music field. Steven C. Smith's Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema took a special recognition award in the same book category.
In broadcast and media, Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson and David McMurry won the pop music award for their documentary Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted. Gail Wein received the top broadcast award in concert music for the podcast series Classical Gas.
Rick Beato was given a special recognition award for his YouTube series Everything Music. The judges were Robbie Fulks, Julie Flanders, Carman Moore and Betsy Schramm.
Earlier work behind this year's honors
Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted was released in 2025, and Classical Gas was a 2025 podcast series produced by Classical Voice North America. Beato's Everything Music was a 2025 YouTube series.
Quick answers
When were the 77th Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards announced?
The ASCAP Foundation announced the winners on October 23, 2026.
Which book won a Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Award in concert music?
Tim Greiving's John Williams: A Composer's Life received the book award in the concert music field.